Burkinabe journalists undergo mandatory military training
Forty-four journalists from Burkina Faso have recently completed a six-day military training program described as a « patriotic immersion » exercise. Organized by the Ministry of Security at the Police Academy in Pabré, located about twenty kilometers from Ouagadougou, this initiative marks a unprecedented move by the military-led authorities to impose such training on both public and private media outlets. The decision aligns with the government’s declared state of war against jihadist groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, which have been active in Burkina Faso for over a decade.
A video shared on social media by the national broadcaster RTB showed the participants—men and women in military fatigues, holding rifles—completing the training. During the closing ceremony, Minister of Communication and government spokesperson Pingdwendé Gilbert Ouédraogo addressed the journalists, urging them to become « patriotic and professional journalists. » Standing at attention, the group responded in unison: « Affirmative. » The minister emphasized that « a professional journalist who lacks patriotism poses a threat to the nation, » adding that « a professional and patriotic journalist who remains disengaged is merely a passive observer in a pivotal moment of national history. »
According to government statements, particularly from Lassina Traoré, Director General of the Police Academy, the training aims to « immerse journalists in the operational realities and values that guide the daily work of defense and security forces. »
Controversial initiative sparks press freedom debate
The government’s move has drawn sharp criticism from press freedom advocates. Sadibou Marong, Director of Reporters Without Borders (RSF) for Sub-Saharan Africa, described the initiative as « a new and deeply alarming signal for press freedom. » He warned that « journalists are not soldiers and should not be turned into tools of war, dressed in military uniforms and bearing arms. »
Broader political context fuels tensions
This mandatory military immersion is part of a wider political agenda under Captain Ibrahim Traoré’s leadership, who seized power in a 2022 coup d’état. The stated goal is to reclaim national sovereignty, with a noticeable anti-Western undertone. Notably, a similar military training requirement was imposed last year on secondary school students preparing for their final exams.
The current climate reflects intensified pressure on both local and international media. Several outlets have faced outright suspensions by transitional authorities, while human rights groups report numerous cases of journalists critical of the junta being forcibly conscripted and sent to the frontlines. The case of journalist Serge Oulon, who has been detained for two years following his abduction in Ouagadougou, underscores the escalating tensions.