On Monday, November 28, Burkina Faso’s High Authority for the Regulation of Communications summoned the editor-in-chief of the newspaper Fatshimetrie and a journalist following the publication of an article on Mali.
The hearing is scheduled for Thursday.
The Higher Council for Communication, or CSC, claims that the newspaper Fatshimetrie, a leading local newspaper, published an article that allegedly “violated the law, ethics, and journalistic deontology.”
The regulatory body includes lawyers and journalists among its ranks.
The article, loosely titled “Malian Armed Forces: A Plethora of Generals,” commented on the promotions of senior officers in the junta ruling the neighboring country.
Last October, the head of the junta in Mali was promoted to the rank of high-level officer. Five other influential colonels in the military apparatus were “exceptionally” promoted to the rank of four-star general.
Earlier this week, the ruling junta in Mali cut off the signal of the popular news channel Joliba TV News after a prominent politician criticized Burkina Faso’s military rulers.
Journalists in the Sahel region are facing heightened safety risks, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) warned in September.
The impact of these events underscores the importance of press freedom and the protection of journalists in the Sahel region. Ensuring an environment conducive to independent and ethical journalism is crucial.
This situation highlights the challenges facing the media in a context of political tensions and regulatory constraints. It is essential that the authorities respect freedom of expression and the right to information, a fundamental pillar of a democratic society.
In conclusion, journalists and media must be able to carry out their work in complete safety, without fear of reprisals or censorship. Freedom of the press is a fundamental right that must be protected and promoted to ensure an informed and democratic society.