The Congress of African Journalists (CAJ) has demanded the immediate release of three journalists who were recently detained and forcibly conscripted into the armed forces in Burkina Faso.
In a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja, CAJ President Christopher Isiguzo condemned the arrests and described the action as a gross violation of press freedom.
The detained journalists are Guezouma Sanogo, President of the Association of Burkinabe Journalists (AJB); his deputy, Boukari Ouoba; and Luc Pagbelguem, a reporter with the private television station, BF1.
Reports indicate that the journalists were arrested by intelligence operatives of the National Security Council on March 24. Sanogo and Ouoba were said to have been detained after speaking out against escalating restrictions on press freedom during the AJB Congress, while Pagbelguem was apprehended for covering the event.
A video circulated online last week showed the three journalists clad in military uniforms at an undisclosed location, flanked by armed men in Burkinabe army fatigues.
Isiguzo called on the authorities in Burkina Faso to release the detained journalists without delay and uphold the right of media professionals to operate freely.
“We are deeply concerned about the growing crackdown on journalists and media outlets in Burkina Faso. Such actions breed fear and promote self-censorship among journalists,” Isiguzo stated.
He warned that the ongoing repression undermines the fundamental rights to freedom of expression and access to information.
Isiguzo also urged the release of three other journalists who were reportedly conscripted into the army earlier in 2024. They include Serge Oulon, Editor-in-Chief of L’Evénement newspaper; Adama Bayala; and Kalifara Sere, both of BF1 TV.
“These individuals went missing in June 2024, with the authorities confirming their conscription in October of that year,” he said.
He further noted that the whereabouts of Alain Traore, a columnist with Omega Media, remain unknown after he was seized by masked gunmen in July 2024. “The authorities have refused to comment on his fate,” he added.
“As the repression intensifies, many journalists have fled the country fearing arrest and forced conscription,” Isiguzo said, emphasizing that CAJ will continue to monitor the situation closely.
He called on international organizations to prevail on the Burkinabe government to respect journalists’ rights and ensure their safe return.
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