Committee to Protect Journalists - Burkina Faso

CPJ, African groups call for press freedom commitment

2010-07-08T15:20:47Z

Your Excellencies: As you gather in Paris for festivities that celebrate your nations’ 50 years of independence, we, the undersigned African press freedom advocates petition for your public commitment to a free, vibrant, and self-sustaining press as a cornerstone of the development of francophone Africa in the next five decades.

Attacks on the Press 2009: Africa Developments

2010-02-16T05:02:50Z

Journalists receive death threats in Burkina Faso

2009-02-17T22:19:38Z

Dear Mr. President: We are writing to express concern about a series of death threats aimed at independent journalists that have referenced the unsolved murder of investigative journalist Norbert Zongo in 1998. We call on you to ensure that the government thoroughly investigates these threats and protect the well-being of all journalists.

CPJ Impact

2009-01-13T19:35:57Z

January 2009

News from the Committee to Protect Journalists

Attacks on the Press 2007: Africa Snapshots

2008-02-05T16:59:20Z

Attacks & developments throughout the region

The Threatening E-Mail as Published in L'observateur Paalga In Burkina Faso, an e-mail warns, ’You will be gunned down’

2007-04-26T16:00:00Z

New York, April 26, 2007—Authorities in Burkina Faso must fully investigate a death threat against outspoken journalist and free speech activist Karim Sama, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Sama received an anonymous e-mail last week warning that he “will be gunned down” over commentary that is critical of the government.

Sama, host of two popular reggae programs on Radio Ouaga FM in the capital, Ouagadougou, said he received an April 18 e-mail stating: “Just inviting you to stop your nonsense at radio Ouaga FM. You must know that you will be gunned down very soon and nothing will happen.” The message continued, in incomplete sentences: “We have gunned down Norbert Zongo, nothing happened. You also your turn isn’t very far.”

Attacks on the Press 2006: Africa Snapshots

2007-02-05T16:46:58Z

Attacks & developments throughout the region

Murder unsolved, but Burkinabé journalists convicted of defamation

2007-01-23T17:00:00Z

New York, January 23, 2007—A court in the capital, Ouagadougou, convicted two top journalists with the private bi-monthly L’Evénement on criminal defamation charges on Monday in connection with critical stories about the unsolved 1998 murder of editor Norbert Zongo.

Director Germain Nama and editor Ahmed Newton Barry were found guilty of defaming Francois Compaoré, brother of President Blaise Compaoré. Nama and Barry were each sentenced to two-month suspended prison terms, fined 300,000 CFA francs (US$600), and ordered to pay symbolic damages of 1 CFA franc to Compaoré, defense lawyer Bénéwendé Sankara told CPJ. The journalists have filed an appeal but were instructed to publish the ruling in the local papers, Nama told CPJ.

CPJ calls for charges against Burkinabé journalists to be dropped

2007-01-19T17:00:00Z

New York, January 19, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on authorities in Burkina Faso to drop criminal defamation charges against two private newspaper journalists over stories on the unsolved 1998 murder of editor Norbert Zongo. The articles discussed a report by the Paris-based press freedom group Reporters Sans Frontières (RSF) that raised questions about the role of President Blaise Compaoré’s brother in the Zongo case.

CPJ condemns dropped charges in Zongo case

2006-07-20T16:00:00Z

New York, July 20, 2006—The Committee to Protect Journalists is outraged by the decision of a judge in Burkina Faso to drop charges against the only suspect in the 1998 murder of a journalist probing criminal allegations against the president’s family.

Prosecutors said yesterday an examining magistrate had granted their request to drop the case against a member of the presidential guard indicted in the killing of Norbert Zongo, editor of the weekly L’Indépendant in the capital Ouagadougou. They said examining magistrate Wenceslas Ilboudo had dismissed charges against Warrant Officer Marcel Kafando, a member of the Presidential Guard Regiment, for lack of evidence. An independent commission of inquiry concluded in May 1999 that Kafando was one of six “serious suspects” in the murder.

Journalist detained, harrassed by security forces

2006-04-20T16:00:00Z

APRIL 20, 2006

Antoine Bationo, Le Pays
Boureïma Jeremie Sigue, Le Pays
HARASSED

Security forces detained and questioned Antoine Bationo, a sports journalist for the private daily Le Pays, after he interviewed former soldiers accused of mounting a coup attempt, local sources told CPJ.

Attacks on the Press 2004: Africa Analysis

2005-03-14T16:57:00Z

Overview
by Julia Crawford

With the rule of law weak in many African countries, journalists regularly battle threats and harassment, not only from governments but also from rogue elements, such as militias. Repressive legislation is used in many countries to silence journalists who write about sensitive topics such as corruption, mismanagement, and human rights abuses. If fewer journalists were killed or imprisoned in Africa than in some other regions in 2004--two were killed and 19 were behind bars for their work at year's end--the problems they face are insidious and ongoing.

CPJ troubled by editor's detention

2004-11-08T17:00:00Z

New York, November 8, 2004—The Committee to Protect Journalists is deeply concerned by the detention of Mathieu N'do, managing editor of the pro-opposition weekly San Finna. Local sources say N'do was arrested November 5 at the airport in the capital, Ouagadougou, as he was returning from Ivory Coast, where he had traveled to report on ongoing tensions between government and rebel forces.

Attacks on the Press 2003: Africa Analysis

2004-03-11T17:08:25Z

Although the number of journalists in prison in Africa at the end of 2003 was lower than the previous year, African journalists still faced a multitude of difficulties, including government harassment and physical assaults. Many countries in Africa retain harsh press laws. In the wake of the 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, some countries have also moved to introduce tough antiterrorist legislation, which journalists fear could be used to stifle civil liberties, including press freedom. For example, Uganda, which faces a rebellion in the north, used its antiterrorism law in 2003 to shutter a radio station for more than a month.

Attacks on the Press 2002: Africa Analysis

2003-03-31T17:10:53Z

Although the Kenya-based East African Standard, one of Africa's oldest continuously published newspapers, marked its 100th anniversary in November, journalism remains a difficult profession on the continent, with adverse government policies and multifaceted economic woes still undermining the full development of African media.