The Sahelian press, the last barricade against the pleasure of the putschists – Libération

If there is one area where the dictators of the Sahel cooperate wonderfully, it is in bringing the media, which were the pioneers of the democratic adventure of the 90s, into line, notes Nigerien political science researcher Rahmane Idrissa.

Every month, researchers specializing in the Sahel deliver their thoughts, their insights, their amusements, their anger or their opinions on the region. Today, the point of view of Rahmane Idrissa, political scientist at the African Studies Center Leiden (Netherlands) and the Africa Institute in Sharjah (United Arab Emirates).

In Ouagadougou, about a month ago, an individual whose name has not been disclosed filled eight suitcases in soft pastel and gray-blue colors with a sum of 5 billion CFA francs in large denominations and approached soldiers by offering it to them in exchange for the overthrow of Captain Ibrahim Traoré, president of Burkina Faso. The latter, virtuous patriots, immediately alerted their superiors, who told them to play the game. The individual, having obtained the agreement of the soldiers, hastened to hand over his billions and “found himself in the trap” – says the voice-over of the journalist (?) from RTB, Burkinabe state radio and television, who comments on images where we see the suitcases of the crime monitored by two soldiers wearing skull masks (this is is a fashion).

In neighboring Mali, Issa Kaou N’Djim, an opinion leader formerly close to the putschists but disappointed by their refusal to engage in a democratic transition according to the rules,