Burkina Faso has decided to suspend the broadcast of Radio France Internationale “RFA”, accusing it of broadcasting an “intimidating message” attributed to a “terrorist leader”.
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During the demonstrations against France in Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso decided on Saturday to “immediately suspend until further notice” the broadcasts of Radio France Internationale “Radio France Evangile”, accusing it in particular of broadcasting an “intimidating message” attributed to a “terrorist leader”, according to as announced by the government spokesman.
By transmitting this message, a statement signed by government spokesman Jean-Emmanuel Ouedraogo says that the radio is contributing “to the desperate maneuver of terrorist groups with the aim of discouraging thousands of Burkina Faso citizens who have mobilized to defend their homeland”.
Read also: Burkina Faso: popular demonstrations in support of Russia and rejection of the French presence
Earlier this week, a group affiliated with the “al-Qaeda organisation” released a video clip showing one of its leaders in Burkina Faso threatening to attack villages defended by “Homeland Defense Volunteers”, which is made up of civilian elements to support the army, which has recruited 90,000 members within 3 weeks to counter the escalating armed attacks.
This was preceded by the military council Mali’s ruler issued a similar decision in March to halt Radio France Internationale and France 24 broadcasts in the country until further notice, for publishing fake news and allegations of military violations against civilians.
🔴#Burkina Faso joins #Mali suspending RFI on its territory. According to the Burkina Faso authorities, this radio station has become a point of reference for terrorist groups. pic.twitter.com/5TmiBR8Ob2
— Iris News (@IrisNews6) December 3, 2022
The government of Burkina Faso also accuses the French state radio of having quoted the newspapers, yesterday, Friday, “misleading information according to which the transitional president Ibrahim Traore says that a coup attempt has targeted his authority ”.
The statement said that “on November 3, the government expressed its dissatisfaction with the behavior of some journalists in these media outlets and with their tendency to distort the image of the struggle the people of Burkina Faso are engaged in for greater freedom and dignity”.
He added: “In view of all of the above, the government has decided to immediately suspend, until further notice, the broadcasting of Radio France International programs throughout the national territory.”
However, the government was keen to “reaffirm to national and international public opinion its adherence to freedom of the press and of opinion” and to the “right of the public to obtain information”, while “asking for compliance with the rules and principles imposed about it in the country.”
Military personnel in Burkina Faso announced in a televised statement in late September, Removal of the head of the ruling military councilPaul Henri Sandaogo Damiba, who seized power in a coup at the end of January.
Read also: Damiba flees to Togo after the military coup in Burkina Faso
Participants in the national meetings agreed Launched on 14 October in the capital of Burkina Faso, Ouagadougou, to appoint the leader of the military coup, Ibrahim Traore, transitional president of the country.
