More than forty Burkinabè journalists, representing both state-owned and private media outlets, have recently concluded a military training program. The ruling junta has characterized this initiative as a “patriotic immersion,” which is now slated to become an annual requirement.
While a similar mandatory program was introduced last year for students admitted to the baccalaureate, given the nation’s ongoing conflict with jihadist factions, this new directive targeting journalists has ignited apprehension among press freedom advocates. These concerns are amplified by prior instances where Burkinabè journalists were forcibly enlisted for combat, coupled with significant governmental pressure on the national press. The continued detention of Serge Oulon, two years after his abduction in Ouagadougou, serves as a stark reminder of this challenging environment.
The training, spanning a week, was organized by the Ministry of Security and took place at the Pabré Police Academy, approximately twenty kilometers outside Ouagadougou. A video broadcast on national television depicted Pingdwendé Gilbert Ouédraogo, the Minister of Communication and government spokesperson, addressing the journalists. Dressed in camouflage fatigues and holding rifles, he posed the question: “Will you be patriotic and professional journalists?” The journalists, standing at attention, responded in unison: “Affirmative!” The Minister further elaborated, stating, “A professional journalist who lacks patriotism poses a threat. A professional and patriotic journalist who remains uncommitted is akin to a passive observer in a period where the most significant chapters of their nation’s history are being written.”
Lassina Traoré, the Director General of the Police Academy, articulated that the training’s purpose is to “familiarize [journalists] with the operational realities and core values that consistently guide our defense and security forces.”
Nevertheless, this “patriotic immersion,” as termed by the authorities, continues to raise alarms among organizations dedicated to protecting press freedom. A representative from a prominent media rights organization, for example, underscored that journalists are fundamentally not military personnel and should not be co-opted into acting as instruments of the war effort, nor should they be clad in military uniforms and armed.
While a similar mandatory program was introduced last year for students admitted to the baccalaureate, given the nation’s ongoing conflict with jihadist factions, this new directive targeting journalists has ignited apprehension among press freedom advocates. These concerns are amplified by prior instances where Burkinabè journalists were forcibly enlisted for combat, coupled with significant governmental pressure on the national press. The continued detention of Serge Oulon, two years after his abduction in Ouagadougou, serves as a stark reminder of this challenging environment.
The training, spanning a week, was organized by the Ministry of Security and took place at the Pabré Police Academy, approximately twenty kilometers outside Ouagadougou. A video broadcast on national television depicted Pingdwendé Gilbert Ouédraogo, the Minister of Communication and government spokesperson, addressing the journalists. Dressed in camouflage fatigues and holding rifles, he posed the question: “Will you be patriotic and professional journalists?” The journalists, standing at attention, responded in unison: “Affirmative!” The Minister further elaborated, stating, “A professional journalist who lacks patriotism poses a threat. A professional and patriotic journalist who remains uncommitted is akin to a passive observer in a period where the most significant chapters of their nation’s history are being written.”
Lassina Traoré, the Director General of the Police Academy, articulated that the training’s purpose is to “familiarize [journalists] with the operational realities and core values that consistently guide our defense and security forces.”
Nevertheless, this “patriotic immersion,” as termed by the authorities, continues to raise alarms among organizations dedicated to protecting press freedom. A representative from a prominent media rights organization, for example, underscored that journalists are fundamentally not military personnel and should not be co-opted into acting as instruments of the war effort, nor should they be clad in military uniforms and armed.
