The scene was certainly striking: Burkinabè journalists, clad in military fatigues, wielding rifles, and standing at attention. For nearly a week, 44 media professionals from both public and private sectors underwent a specialized training course. This program, initiated by the Ministry of Security, took place from Sunday to Friday at the Pabré Police Academy, located approximately twenty kilometers from the capital, Ouagadougou. Footage broadcast by the national television channel, RTB, depicted these journalists engaged in physical drills, patriotic singing, and weapons handling. During the training, Communication Minister Pingdwendé Gilbert Ouédraogo posed a critical question to the participants, asking if they would commit to being “patriotic and professional journalists.” Their collective response was a resounding “Affirmative.”

The government’s patriotic vision

The Burkinabè government has openly embraced and defended this initiative. Lassina Traoré, the Director General of the Police Academy, explained that the program’s primary objective was to immerse journalists in the “operational realities and values” of the nation’s defense and security forces. Security Minister Mahamadou Sana has articulated an even broader vision, announcing plans for this training to become an “annual tradition” for media professionals. He also hinted at the possibility of extending this framework to “other socio-professional groups.” From the government’s perspective, this intensive immersion is designed to cultivate and strengthen patriotism within a country that has been grappling with a severe jihadist insurgency for several years.

RSF raises press freedom alarms

However, this government-led initiative has sparked profound concern among advocates for press freedom. Sadibou Marong, the head of Reporters Without Borders’ (RSF) Sub-Saharan Africa bureau, emphasized that “this initiative sends another deeply troubling signal for press freedom.” RSF firmly reiterates that journalists are not military personnel and must not be co-opted into becoming “relays for the war effort.” The organization has specifically urged Burkinabè authorities to uphold and safeguard the independence of the media.

Increasing pressure on media professionals

This military training for journalists unfolds against a backdrop of heightened tension for media practitioners across Burkina Faso. Since the junta, led by Captain Ibrahim Traoré, seized power in 2022, numerous media outlets have faced suspension, and critical voices have been silenced. Non-governmental organizations have also reported instances of journalists and other individuals critical of the regime allegedly being forcibly conscripted to participate in the fight against jihadist groups. Conversely, the Burkinabè government champions a sovereignist policy, asserting that it is leading a “popular progressive revolution.”

The conflict as justification

Since 2015, Burkina Faso has been embroiled in an insurgency spearheaded by armed factions linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. This protracted violence has claimed thousands of lives and displaced millions of people. It is within this dire context that the junta justifies its intensified national mobilization efforts. Nevertheless, the announcement of annual military training for journalists prompts a more fundamental question: how far can a nation’s patriotic mobilization extend during wartime without compromising the independence of those whose fundamental role is to inform the public? For RSF, the answer remains unequivocal: a journalist’s identity and mission must remain distinct, even amidst conflict.