While Burkina Faso has laws guaranteeing freedom of expression, their application is limited by repressive measures. The restructuring of the Conseil supérieur de la communication (CSC) in 2023 strengthened state control over the media, allowing censorship, searches and suspension of certain media outlets. This situation has given rise to concerns about the risk of abuse of power and has restricted the plurality of information.
Since 2022, the crackdown on journalists and dissident voices has intensified, leading to widespread self-censorship. The authorities have suspended several international media outlets and expelled foreign journalists, while encouraging hate speech against critical media. At the same time, kidnappings of journalists, activists and political opponents have been reported, fuelling a climate of fear and insecurity.
The security crisis has also undermined the media landscape, increasing the insecurity of journalists and limiting independent investigations. Increased media control and censorship have reduced access to diverse information, affecting transparency and public confidence in state institutions. Fear of repression has also paralysed public discourse, leading to widespread self-censorship among citizens.
To restore freedom of expression in Burkina Faso, a number of measures need to be considered, i.e. respecting citizens’ fundamental rights, strengthening legal frameworks favourable to press freedom, mobilising local organisations to protect journalists, setting up community forums to encourage public discourse, and encouraging the media to adopt innovative strategies to circumvent censorship while guaranteeing their safety.
The situation in Burkina Faso underscores a profound crisis in freedom of expression, threatening the country’s democratic underpinnings. Only a comprehensive approach, involving the state, civil society and the media, will restore an environment conducive to freedom of expression.
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