CAJ demands release of detained journalists in Burkina Faso

The Congress of African Journalists (CAJ) has demanded the immediate release of journalists allegedly detained and conscripted into the armed forces in Burkina Faso.

Guezouma Sanogo, president of the Association of Burkinabe Journalists (AJB); Boukari Ouoba, his deputy; and Luc Pagbelguem, a reporter with BFI, a private TV station, were reportedly arrested by the country’s national security council intelligence officers on March 24.

Sanogo and Ouoba were detained after voicing concerns about growing press freedom violations during the AJB Congress.

Pagbelguem was arrested after his media outlet reported on the congress, during which Sanogo also called for the release of four other journalists who were allegedly abducted and forcibly conscripted into the military in 2024.

In a statement condemning the attacks on the media, Christopher Isiguzo, CAJ president, urged the Burkinabe authorities to immediately release the journalists and uphold press freedom.

“We call on the Burkinabe authorities to immediately release the detained journalists and ensure journalists and media outlets can operate freely,” Isiguzo said.

Isiguzo warned that the the repression is eroding press freedom, creating a climate of fear and self-censorship among journalists, adding that such conditions undermine the fundamental rights to freedom of expression and access to information.

The CAJ president also demanded the release of three journalists reportedly conscripted into the military in 2024 — Serge Oulon, editor-in-chief of L’Evénement newspaper; Adama Bayala; and Kalifara Sere of BF1.

The journalists were said to have gone missing in June 2024, with authorities only confirming their conscription in October.

The whereabouts of Alain Traore, a columnist with Omega Media, remain unknown after he was reportedly abducted by masked gunmen in July 2024.

The AJB congress had also raised the alarm over the disappearances of Bienvenue Apiou, James Yazid Dembele, and Mamadou Ali.

Some journalists were said to have fled Burkina Faso over fear of arrest and forced conscription.

Burkina Faso, with a history of sporadic military rule, has been under the control of a junta since 2022.