Burkina Faso suspends broadcasts of BBC Africa, VOA for rights report

By James Tasamba

KIGALI, Rwanda (AA) - Burkina Faso’s authorities announced the suspension of BBC Africa and Voice of America after the media outlets broadcasted news stories about a report by Human Rights Watch which accused the army of abuses against civilians.

The Superior Council of Communication in a statement Thursday, ordered the “immediate halt of the rebroadcasts and suspension” of the programs of the international radio stations for two weeks.

The Council also suspended access to the websites and digital platforms of BBC, VOA, and Human Rights Watch.

It accused the news outlets of broadcasting articles that it said contain “biased statements against the Burkinabe army without any tangible evidence -- likely to discredit the military and create disturbances to public order.”

The accusation was in reference to a Human Rights Watch report which said 223 civilians, including at least 56 children, were massacred by the military Feb. 25, in what it said could have been part of a widespread military campaign against civilians accused of collaborating with armed groups.

VOA said it stands by its reporting and it sought reactions from Burkinabe officials about the story but did not receive a response.

Burkina Faso’s military government suspended the broadcast of France’s Radio France Internationale (RFI) in 2022 on accusations of giving voice to “a message of intimidation to the population attributed to a terrorist leader.”

The junta also suspended in recent months other Western news networks, including the French television broadcasters LCI and France24, and the French daily newspaper, Le Monde.