The ruling junta in Burkina Faso cut the broadcast of France 24 on its territory, following an interview with the leader of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), a decision that the French channel “deplores deeply”.
“By opening its antennas to the first head of AQIM, France 24 is not only acting as a communication agency for these terrorists, worse, it offers a space for legitimizing terrorist actions and hate speech conveyed to satisfy the evil aims of this organization on Burkina Faso,” said a statement signed by government spokesman Jean-Emmanuel Ouedraogo on Monday.
“The government has therefore decided in full responsibility, and in the name of the best interests of the Nation, to suspend sine die the broadcasting of France 24 programs throughout the national territory”, continues the text.
“Legitimization of the terrorist message”
The channel’s signal was cut around 9 a.m. (GMT and local) on Monday morning. On March 6, France 24 had deciphered, on the occasion of a chronicle on set, written answers from Abou Obeida Youssef al-Annabi, the head of AQIM, to about fifteen questions asked by the journalist of the channel Frenchwoman and specialist in jihadist issues, Wassim Nasr.
“We believe that this is part of a process of legitimizing the terrorist message and we know the effects of this message in our country. We cannot accept today that a media opens its antennas to this hate speech”, has declared Jean-Emmanuel Ouedraogo, interviewed by national television RTB, Monday noon.
“Unfounded accusations”
In a press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, France “regrets the decision taken by the Burkinabè authorities to suspend the broadcasting of France 24” while reaffirming “its constant and determined commitment to press freedom”. For its part, the management of France 24 deplores this decision in a press release and “contests the unfounded accusations which call into question the professionalism of the channel”, being indignant “at the outrageous and defamatory remarks of the Burkinabè government”.
The chain specifies that it did not give the floor to the head of AQIM directly but through a “chronicle” which made it possible to offer “the necessary distance and contextualization”, and to confirm “for the first time” that the French hostage Olivier Dubois “released since, was retained by AQIM”.
RFI broadcasting suspended in December
On Monday evening, the Burkinabè government reacted to a publication by another French media, Releaseon the analysis of a video showing, according to the daily’s investigation, the execution of teenagers by soldiers in the north of the country. “The government strongly condemns these manipulations disguised as journalism to tarnish the image of the country men of integrity”, reacted the government, assuring that the army acts “in strict respect for international humanitarian law”.
At the beginning of December, the junta in power in Ouagadougou had already suspended the broadcasting of Radio France Internationale (RFI), from the same group as France 24, France Médias Monde. RFI was notably accused of having relayed “a message of intimidation” attributed to a “terrorist leader”.
“The security crisis that the country is going through must not be a pretext to muzzle the media and prevent journalists from covering it with full responsibility and independence,” reacted Reporters Without Borders (RSF), which also calls on “the authorities to reconsider their decision”.
Mali also concerned
For a year, RFI and France 24 have also been suspended in Mali, also governed by a military junta. The two media, which closely cover African news, are widely followed throughout French-speaking Africa. France 24 said on Monday that it was followed in Burkina Faso “by a third of the population every week and more than 60% of executives and managers”.
Since 2015, Burkina has been caught in a spiral of violence perpetrated by jihadist groups linked to the Islamic State and Al-Qaeda, which have caused a total of 10,000 deaths – civilians and soldiers – according to NGOs, and some two million moved.
Captain Ibrahim Traoré, who came to power in a putsch six months ago, expressed in February his “intact determination” to fight the jihadists, despite the multiplication of attacks. Relations between France and Burkina have deteriorated since Captain Traoré came to power.
In January, the authorities in Ouagadougou demanded and obtained the departure of the French Saber force, a contingent of 400 special forces soldiers for the andijihadist struggle in the Sahel. They had also asked for the departure of the French ambassador, Luc Hallade, who was recalled to Paris for “consultations” and has still not been replaced. Finally, at the beginning of March, Burkina denounced a military assistance agreement signed in 1961 with France.