BMA has learnt that Burkina Faso has ordered the immediate suspension of French broadcaster Radio France Internationale (RFI), charging it with putting out a “message of intimidation” attributed to a “terrorist chief”.
According to Burkinabe government spokesperson Jean Emmanuel Ouedraogo, RFI had contributed to “a desperate manoeuvre of terrorist groups” to dissuade thousands of Burkinabe citizens from mobilising for the defence of the country.
On 3 November, the government had already protested the contents of the French broadcaster’s reports.
The government statement said, “Considering everything that has happened before, the government has decided on the immediate suspension, until further notice, of the broadcasting of Radio France Internationale’s programmes.”
The government also accused RFI of relaying “misleading information” suggesting the leader of the Burkinabe junta, Captain Ibrahim Traore, had said there had been an attempted coup against him.
In a statement, RFI’s management said it “deeply deplores this decision and protests against the unfounded accusations calling into question the professionalism of its stations”.
The decision to cut off RFI’s broadcasting service “was taken without prior notice and without implementing the procedures drawn up by Burkina Faso’s Higher Council for Communication,” it added.
The French broadcaster said it “will explore all avenues to restore RFI’s broadcasting, and reiterates its unwavering commitment to the freedom to inform and the professional work of its journalists.”
According to RFI, the radio station is heard weekly in Burkina Faso by more than 40 per cent of the population and “more than 70 per cent of opinion leaders”.
