Tuesday, October 10, 2023

Burkina Faso junta suspends French magazine over "untruthful" articles

The military junta in Burkina Faso on Monday ordered the suspension of the French news magazine, Jeune Afrique, for publishing "untrue" articles about tensions and dissatisfaction within the country's armed forces, according to a statement. 

This is the latest in a string of clampdowns on French media in the country, which was taken over by the military last year. The statement also accused the publication of attempting to "dismiss" the armed forces and manipulating information to "foment chaos" in the country, following two articles published in the last four days.

Burkina Faso’s relations with its former colonial master, France, have been deteriorated since frustrations over the growing insecurity caused by a jihadist rebellion led to two military takeovers in the past year. The French ambassador to Burkina Faso has been ordered to leave the country and foreign media have been attacked.

Radio France Internationale, a French-funded station, and France24, a French-owned channel, have already been suspended by the junta for allegedly aiding Islamist militants in an anti-government rebellion in the south of the Sahel.

Written by Paula Guerrero


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