CAJ Demands Release of Journalists Forcibly Drafted into Army in Burkina Faso
The Congress of African Journalists (CAJ) has called for the immediate release of three journalists who were detained and forcibly conscripted into the armed forces in Burkina Faso.
President of CAJ, Christopher Isiguzo, made the appeal in a statement issued to newsmen in Abuja.
The affected journalists are Guezouma Sanogo, President of the Association of Burkinabe Journalists (AJB); his deputy, Boukari Ouoba; and Luc Pagbelguem, a reporter with private television station, BF1.
According to reports, the trio was allegedly arrested by intelligence officers of the National Security Council on March 24. While Sanogo and Ouoba were reportedly detained after speaking out against worsening press freedom violations during the AJB Congress, Pagbelguem was arrested for covering the event.
A disturbing video emerged online last week showing the three journalists dressed in military fatigues at an undisclosed location, surrounded by armed men in Burkinabe army uniforms.
Isiguzo urged the Burkinabe authorities to free the detained journalists immediately and allow media professionals to carry out their duties without fear or interference.
He expressed alarm at the increasing crackdown on the press in Burkina Faso, warning that the hostile environment was instilling fear and encouraging self-censorship among journalists.
“This will undermine the fundamental right to freedom of expression and access to information,” Isiguzo said.
He also demanded the release of three other journalists who were forcibly conscripted into the military earlier in 2024: Serge Oulon, Editor-in-Chief of L’Evénement newspaper; Adama Bayala; and Kalifara Sere, also of BF1.
“These individuals went missing in June 2024, with the authorities confirming their conscription in October of that year,” Isiguzo noted.
He further highlighted the unresolved case of Alain Traore, a columnist with Omega Media, who was seized by masked gunmen in July 2024. “The fate of Alain Traore remains unknown, as the authorities refuse to comment on his whereabouts,” he said.
“As the repression intensifies, many journalists have fled the country fearing arrest and forced conscription,’’ he added.
Isiguzo assured that CAJ would continue to monitor the situation closely and urged international organizations to prevail on the Burkinabe government to respect press freedom and ensure the safe return of all detained journalists.
