Burkina Faso Clamps Down on International Media over Insurgency Coverage

Burkina Faso's military junta suspended Voice of America for three months, accusing it of demoralizing troops amid a jihadist insurgency. The ban extends to local outlets using international reports. This reflects growing intolerance of criticism as insecurity worsens, despite promises to quell Islamist violence.

In a bold move, Burkina Faso's military junta has suspended the U.S.-funded broadcaster Voice of America for a period of three months. The decision, announced late on Monday, accused the broadcaster of making comments that demoralized troops regarding the jihadist insurgency plaguing the Sahel region in West Africa.

The country's superior council for communication, CSC, also took steps to temporarily ban local media from utilizing reports from international outlets. The action follows a controversial discussion aired on September 19 that was said to have undermined both Burkina Faso and Mali's military efforts with allegations and criticism deemed unfounded by officials.

This latest clampdown highlights the junta's growing intolerance towards media criticism as they struggle to address escalating security challenges since seizing power in a 2022 coup. This incident further underscores the climate of media restrictions in Burkina Faso, adding to previous suspensions of other major international broadcasters.

(With inputs from agencies.)