The Ministry of Security in Burkina Faso recently concluded a six-day military training program for over 40 journalists, described as a patriotic immersion exercise. Held at the police academy in Pabré, just 20 kilometers from Ouagadougou, the initiative was made mandatory for both public and private media professionals by the military-led government under Captain Ibrahim Traoré.
Military drills and patriotic pledges
A video shared by the national broadcaster RTB captured the journalists—44 in total—dressed in military fatigues and holding rifles during the training. Minister of Communication and government spokesperson Pingdwendé Gilbert Ouédrago addressed the participants, asking, “Will you be patriotic and professional journalists?” Standing at attention, the journalists responded in unison, “Affirmative.”
The minister emphasized the importance of patriotism in journalism, stating, “A professional journalist who lacks patriotism poses a threat to the nation,” and adding that “a patriotic but disengaged journalist is merely a passive observer in a moment when the country’s history is being written.”
Government defends mandatory training
According to officials, the program aims to “immerse journalists in the operational realities and core values guiding the nation’s defense and security forces,” as explained by Lassina Traoré, director general of the police academy. The government frames this as part of a broader strategy to strengthen national resilience amid ongoing threats from jihadist groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, which have destabilized the country for over a decade.
Press freedom advocates raise alarms
The initiative has sparked sharp criticism from press freedom advocates. Sadibou Marong, regional director for Reporters Without Borders, condemned the move as “a disturbing new precedent for press freedom,” arguing that journalists should not be turned into “propaganda tools for war efforts.”
This mandatory military training aligns with a broader political agenda under Captain Traoré, who seized power in a 2022 coup. His administration has prioritized anti-Western rhetoric and national sovereignty, extending similar military training requirements to secondary school students sitting final exams last year.
Widening crackdown on dissent
The militarization of the press coincides with intensified government pressure on domestic and international media. Several outlets have been forcibly shut down, while human rights groups report cases of journalists critical of the junta being forcibly conscripted into military service. One notable case is that of journalist Serge Oulon, who remains detained two years after his abduction in Ouagadougou.
