The political transition in Burkina Faso following Captain Ibrahim Traoré’s rise to power in September 2022 has intensified pressures on critical voices, prompting several journalists and civil society members to seek refuge abroad. Among them are three journalists and a judicial figure now residing in Côte d’Ivoire, a country hosting a significant Burkinabè diaspora.

Continuing to report despite escalating risks

These exiles describe harrowing escapes, often clandestine, driven by fears of forced conscription into the military or punitive actions tied to their professional work. One journalist now operates under a pseudonym to continue reporting, while another has shifted focus to training investigative reporters. All recount recurring threats on social media and live in constant fear of being tracked, even from abroad.

International human rights groups have previously highlighted concerns over the use of a general mobilization decree targeting dissenting voices within the country.

A tentative return hinges on political change

For now, Côte d’Ivoire serves as a sanctuary for these individuals. While they all hope to return to Burkina Faso someday, they emphasize that a meaningful improvement in the country’s political and security landscape remains a prerequisite for such a move. Their testimonies underscore the mounting challenges faced by Burkinabè journalists and opposition figures over the past four years—a period marked by heightened security measures justified by the ongoing fight against jihadist insurgencies plaguing the region for more than a decade.