Burkina Faso Suspends Voice of America Broadcasts

Burkina Faso's military junta has suspended the broadcasts of Voice of America (VOA) for three months due to comments made during a report on jihadist violence in the Sahel region, which the government claims undermined the morale of troops in Burkina Faso and Mali. The Superior Council for Communication (CSC) criticized a VOA discussion aired on September 19, in which the reporter referred to a jihadist attack as 'courageous' and provided an unverified death toll from a violent incident in Burkina Faso. This suspension follows a pattern of increasing intolerance toward media criticism since the junta's rise to power in September 2022, and includes a temporary ban on local media using international reports. The junta's actions are seen as a response to public dissatisfaction with its handling of the ongoing Islamist insurgency that has led to thousands of deaths and displacements. Earlier this year, VOA and several other international media outlets faced similar suspensions for their coverage of allegations against the military. The situation reflects broader challenges faced by Sahel nations in combatting militancy and maintaining press freedom.