Over forty Burkinabè journalists, representing both public and private media outlets, recently concluded a military training program. The ruling junta framed this initiative as a “patriotic immersion,” which is now slated to become an annual requirement.
While a similar mandate was imposed last year on baccalaureate students within the nation’s ongoing conflict against jihadist groups, this new directive has ignited significant apprehension among advocates for press freedom. These concerns are amplified by prior instances of Burkinabè journalists being forcibly conscripted into combat roles and the considerable governmental pressure exerted on the national press. The case of Serge Oulon, who remains detained two years after his abduction in Ouagadougou, serves as a stark reminder of these challenges.
Organized under the auspices of the Ministry of Security, the week-long training took place at the Police Academy in Pabré, approximately twenty kilometers outside Ouagadougou. Footage aired on national television depicted Pingdwendé Gilbert Ouédraogo, the Minister of Communication and government spokesperson, addressing the journalists. Dressed in military fatigues and holding rifles, he posed the question: “Will you be patriotic and professional journalists?” The assembled journalists, standing at attention, responded in unison: “Affirmative!” The minister further elaborated, “A professional journalist who is not patriotic is a threat. A professional and patriotic journalist, but not engaged, is akin to a passive observer in a period where the most glorious chapters of their country’s history are being written.”
Lassina Traoré, the Director General of the Police Academy, articulated that the training’s purpose is to “instill in journalists a deeper understanding of operational realities and the core values that guide our defense and security forces every day.”
Nevertheless, this “patriotic immersion,” as authorities term it, continues to alarm those dedicated to safeguarding press freedom. Sadibou Marong of Reporters Without Borders (RSF) voiced strong opposition, stating, “Journalists are not soldiers and must not be transformed into instruments of the war effort, donning military uniforms and carrying weapons.”
While a similar mandate was imposed last year on baccalaureate students within the nation’s ongoing conflict against jihadist groups, this new directive has ignited significant apprehension among advocates for press freedom. These concerns are amplified by prior instances of Burkinabè journalists being forcibly conscripted into combat roles and the considerable governmental pressure exerted on the national press. The case of Serge Oulon, who remains detained two years after his abduction in Ouagadougou, serves as a stark reminder of these challenges.
Organized under the auspices of the Ministry of Security, the week-long training took place at the Police Academy in Pabré, approximately twenty kilometers outside Ouagadougou. Footage aired on national television depicted Pingdwendé Gilbert Ouédraogo, the Minister of Communication and government spokesperson, addressing the journalists. Dressed in military fatigues and holding rifles, he posed the question: “Will you be patriotic and professional journalists?” The assembled journalists, standing at attention, responded in unison: “Affirmative!” The minister further elaborated, “A professional journalist who is not patriotic is a threat. A professional and patriotic journalist, but not engaged, is akin to a passive observer in a period where the most glorious chapters of their country’s history are being written.”
Lassina Traoré, the Director General of the Police Academy, articulated that the training’s purpose is to “instill in journalists a deeper understanding of operational realities and the core values that guide our defense and security forces every day.”
Nevertheless, this “patriotic immersion,” as authorities term it, continues to alarm those dedicated to safeguarding press freedom. Sadibou Marong of Reporters Without Borders (RSF) voiced strong opposition, stating, “Journalists are not soldiers and must not be transformed into instruments of the war effort, donning military uniforms and carrying weapons.”
