Burkina Faso Temporarily Suspends VOA and BBC/Africa Over Human Rights Report

Burkina Faso has temporarily suspend the programs of Voice of America (VOA) and BBC/Africa following their coverage of a Human Rights Watch report accusing the Burkinabè army of abuses against civilian populations.

The report alleges, “The Burkina Faso military summarily executed at least 223 civilians, including at least 56 children, in two villages on February 25, 2024. These mass killings, among the worst army abuse in Burkina Faso since 2015, appear to be part of a widespread military campaign against civilians accused of collaborating with Islamist armed groups, and may amount to crimes against humanity. Soldiers killed 44 people, including 20 children, in Nondin village, and 179 people, including 36 children, in the nearby Soro village, of Thiou district in the northern Yatenga province.” – Human Rights Watch

Read the full Human Rights Watch report

The Superior Council of Communication issued the directive on Thursday, mandating the immediate cessation of rebroadcasts and suspension of programs from both international radio stations for a duration of two weeks. Additionally, access to the websites and digital platforms of BBC, VOA, and Human Rights Watch has been restricted within Burkina Faso.

In response to VOA’s broadcast of the Human Rights Watch report, which sought reactions from Burkinabè officials, no responses were provided.

This move follows a pattern of suspensions targeting Western news outlets in Burkina Faso, including French television broadcasters LCI and France24, French radio broadcaster Radio France Internationale, as well as the French publications Le Monde and Jeune Afrique.

Burkina Faso, along with neighbouring West African nations Mali and Niger, has been grappling with Islamist insurgencies in the Sahel region. The country came under military rule following a coup in 2022, citing the government’s inability to quell a jihadist insurgency that erupted in 2015.

Disclaimer: One Africa News Today is unable to confirm or validate the contents of the Human Rights Watch report. This content is provided for informational and discussion purposes only and is not intended as an endorsement of any specific viewpoint.