In Ouagadougou, the journalist community is currently concerned about a bill that raises serious concerns about press freedom in the country. Presented during the last Council of Ministers, this bill gives the head of state the power to directly appoint the president of the Superior Council of Communication (CSC), an institution responsible for allocating and withdrawing frequencies from the media.
This announcement quickly sparked numerous reactions, and representatives of professional media organizations gathered at a press conference in Ouagadougou to express their strong opposition to this project. According to them, this reform would call into question the independence of the institution and its ability to make decisions autonomously.
On the one hand, defenders of the bill, such as Minister of Communication Jean-Emmanuel Ouedraogo, argue that this reform would allow better flexibility and increased stability of the CSC. They also claim that it would broaden the scope of intervention of the institution, which would now include the regulation of traditional media and social networks.
However, for Burkinabè journalists, this reform is an attack on press freedom and a questioning of the right to information. They fear that the direct appointment of the president of the CSC by the head of state will compromise the independence of the institution and limit its ability to act in a neutral and impartial manner.
Faced with this situation, journalists are exercising their right to freedom of expression by asking the Legislative Assembly to reject this bill. They emphasize the importance of a free and independent press to guarantee a democratic and pluralist society.
It is essential to pay attention to these debates and support press freedom in all countries.