“Le Monde” denounces the announcement of its suspension in Burkina Faso

After the publication of an article on unprecedented abuses by the Burkinabe army against civilians, The world was suspended again by the country’s authorities, along with six other international media outlets.

The world denounces with the greatest vigor the announcement of its suspension in Burkina Faso, Sunday April 28, and that of six other international media including West FranceTV5Monde, Deutsche Welle and The Guardian. This decision of the Burkinabé Superior Council of Communication (CSC), which has not been officially notified to us, is a new attack on the right of access to information in the country, which has continued to be reduced since the arrival in power of Captain Ibrahim Traoré, in September 2022, thanks to a coup d’état.

The regulatory authority criticizes the World and other media targeted by this measure “disinformation likely to bring discredit to the Burkinabe army”after processing a Human Rights Watch report. The world condemns these accusations and affirms to have worked with the greatest seriousness and in complete independence.

A precedent in December 2023

In an article titled “In Burkina Faso, “soldiers wanted to make sure there were no survivors” » published on April 25, our newspaper reported in detail how at least 223 civilians, including around fifty women and children, were massacred by their own army in villages in the north of the country. This article also reminds us that the victims of the war against terrorism have never been so numerous. Embarrassing information for the Burkinabé authorities, while Captain Traoré took power promising to bring peace to the country.

The suspension of World responds to the constant desire of the government of Burkina Faso to prevent access to information on the security situation in the country. Before this decision by the CSC, access to our newspaper and our website was first banned in December 2023. In April 2023, our correspondent was expelled from the country and, since then, all our visa applications have been refused. This also follows that of many media in previous months, such as Young Africa, LCI, France 24 and RFI. Several figures from civil society were also arrested.

The world affirms that he will continue to do his work impartially on Burkina Faso, despite repeated attempts to prevent him from doing so.