Burkina Faso imposes military training on journalists

This initiative, organized by the Ministry of Security and held at a police school near Ouagadougou, is part of an annual "patriotic immersion" program for both public and private media. The country has been battling jihadist violence for over a decade, and under Captain Ibrahim Traoré, who seized power in 2022, authorities are implementing domestic and anti-Western policies aimed at reclaiming national sovereignty. Sadibou Marong, Director of the Sub-Saharan Africa bureau for Reporters Without Borders, described the move as a "new and very disturbing signal for press freedom," stating that journalists are not soldiers and should not be turned into war effort spokespeople.

Secondary school students in Burkina Faso have also been required to undergo similar training since last year. According to human rights organizations, dozens of journalists critical of the junta have been forcibly conscripted and sent to the front lines. During the training, Communication Minister Pingdwende Gilbert Ouedraogo addressed the journalists, who were dressed in military uniforms and holding rifles, asking if they would be "patriotic and professional journalists."

They responded "Affirmative" in unison, standing at attention. Ouedraogo, who is also the government spokesperson, added that "a professional journalist who is not patriotic represents a threat