The Media Foundation for West Africa strongly condemns the dissolution of the Association of Journalists and calls on the Burkinabe authorities to reverse their decision.
On Tuesday 25 March 2025, the Association des Journalistes du Burkina Faso was dissolved by the military junta. The association is accused of not having complied with the 2015 law governing associations, claiming that under this law, the association does not legally exist and is considered dissolved as of this date.
The decision to dissolve the association comes against a backdrop of repression against journalists that affected the media in Burkina Faso during this month of March. The decision to dissolve the association comes a day after two of its leaders were arrested for denouncing violations of freedom of expression in Burkina Faso.
At a press conference held on Friday 21 March 2025, Gizouma Sanogo, President of the Burkina Journalists Association, highlighted the alarming increase in violations of freedom of expression and of the press in Burkina Faso. Following this conference, Gizouma Sanogo and his vice president, Boukari Ouoba, were arrested and taken to an unknown destination on Monday 24 March by individuals claiming to be agents from the National Bureau of Investigations of Burkina Faso.
This dissolution illustrates the repressive trend against journalists and independent media. The arrest of the association’s leaders and its dissolution underline the major challenges that advocates of freedom of expression and of the press are facing in the country.
The Media Foundation for West Africa calls on the Burkinabe authorities to guarantee freedom of expression and respect the rights of journalists.