In the face of continued threats against media in the West African sub-region, journalists’ bodies and other advocacy groups are asking for improved security for journalists in Mali and Burkina Faso.
The body of media outlets, in an open letter, stated that the situation of journalists in Burkina Faso had become “critical” and demanded urgent action taken.
Some of the signatories to the letter include Burkinabe media outlets, the Malian television station, Joliba, the French media, France 24, Libération, Le Monde, and Radio France Internationale, as well as journalists’ associations and rights organizations.
The body said it was surprised about “calls for the murder of journalists and opinion leaders, threats and intimidation of the national press, grotesque set-ups against journalists, suspension of the international media RFI and France 24 the expulsion of correspondents from the French newspapers Libération and Le Monde”.
The letter stated that a similar situation occurred in Mali where “pressure and intimidation” were on the increase against journalists and media outlets.
“The fight against terrorism must never be used as a pretext for imposing a new information standard,” they say, referring to the spread of jihadism and all kinds of violence facing the two Sahelian countries.
But, increasingly, the attacks are also the work of “influencers” who, on social networks, “play vigilante and do not hesitate to threaten journalists and opinion leaders who are too independent in their eyes with death,” they add.
The West Africa sub-region has witnessed a series of military coups in recent years, specifically in Mali, Guinea, and Burkina Faso.
The coup wave in the sub-region has triggered demonstrations that have been dealt with with stiff measures by the ruling government, arrest of journalists and shutting of local media outlets, as well as the expulsion of some foreign media.