African journalists require an immediate release of colleagues detained in Burkina Faso

African journalists require an immediate release of colleagues detained in Burkina Faso

Nairobi (Reporter Core) The Congress of African journalists (CAJ) asked for the immediate release of three journalists held in Burkina Faso and forcefully expelled in the armed forces. Guzoumauma Sanogo, president of the association of journalists from Burkinabe (Ajb), his deputy Boukari Ouoba, and Luc Pagbelguem, journalist for the BFI private television station, were arrested by the National Security Council intelligence officers on March 24.

Sanogo and Ouoba were arrested after talking against the growing violations of press freedom during the AJB congress. The arrest of Pagbelguem followed the coverage of the congress of his media outlet, where Sanogo also supported the release of four other journalists who were kidnapped and enlisted in the army in 2024.

Last week, a video showed showing the three journalists in military uniform in a not disclosed position, flanked by armed men in the uniforms of the Burkinabe army. The CAJ strongly condemned the actions of the Burkinabe authorities, pushing them to immediately release journalists and support freedom of the press.

“We ask the Burkinabe authorities to immediately release the detained journalists and ensure that journalists and media can operate freely,” said Christopher Isiguzo, president of Caj.

He expressed deep concern for the growing repression of journalists and media by Burkina Faso, who included the suspension of AJB operations.

Isiguzo also underlined the harmful effect that this repression is having on the freedom of the press, warning that it promotes fear and self -censorship between journalists, thus undermining the fundamental right to freedom of expression and access to information.

The president of Caj also asked for the release of three other journalists with force in the army in 2024: Serge Oulon, editor -in -chief of the newspaper L’Evénement, Adama Bayala and Kalifara Seres of BF1, a private television channel. These people disappeared in June 2024, with the authorities confirming their conscription in October of that year. The fate of Alain Traore, editorialist of Omega Media, remains unknown, since he was seized by armed men masked in July 2024, with the authorities who refuse to comment where he was.

As the repression intensifies, many journalists have fled the country, fearing arrest and forced conscription. In particular, Newton Ahmed Barry, a prominent journalist, has been included in a list of individuals “sought for the association with a terrorist organization” by the Burkinabe authorities on April 1st.

During the AJB Congress, further concerns were raised regarding the disappearances of the journalists Bienvenue Apiou, James Yazid Dembele and Mamadou Ali, highlighting the threat in progress to the freedom of the press in Burkina Faso.

The CAJ continues to monitor the situation closely, asking international bodies to exercise pressure on the government of Burkinabe to respect the rights of journalists and guarantee their safe return.