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Burkina Faso suspends BBC and Voice of America radio stations for reporting on Human Rights Watch’s mass killing report by the country’s armed forces.
The communication spokesperson, Tonssira Myrian Corine Sanou, announced the two-week suspension on Thursday and cautioned other media outlets against covering the story.
Human Rights Watch’s report, released on Thursday, detailed the army’s killing of 223 civilians, including 56 children, in villages suspected of collaborating with militants.
The report received extensive coverage by international media outlets, including the Associated Press. Voice of America reaffirmed its reporting on Burkina Faso and expressed its commitment to impartial coverage despite the suspension. The BBC has not issued a response to requests for comment.
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The Superior Council for Communication (CSC) in Burkina Faso announced on Thursday the suspension of programs from two international radio networks based in Ouagadougou for two weeks.
The BBC Africa and VOA had also shared the report on their digital platforms. The CSC criticized HRW’s report for making inflammatory statements against the army without concrete evidence, likely to incite public unrest.
Internet service providers in Burkina Faso were instructed to block access to the websites and digital platforms of BBC, VOA, and HRW. Burkina Faso’s communication spokeswoman, Tonssira Myrian Corine Sanou, cautioned other media outlets against covering the story.
Despite the suspension, VOA reaffirmed its commitment to reporting on Burkina Faso impartially and comprehensively. HRW described the incident as part of a broader military campaign targeting civilians suspected of collaborating with armed groups.
Soldiers killed at least 44 people, including 20 children, in Nondin village, and 179 people, including 36 children, in nearby Soro village, according to its report.
HRW interviewed dozens of witnesses between February and March and analysed videos and photographs shared by survivors. It also reportedly obtained lists of the victims’ names compiled by survivors and geolocated eight mass graves based on satellite imagery from March 15.
