Burkina Faso’s Meeting with Putin Raises Concerns over Press Freedom and Human Rights Amid Growing Crisis

Burkina Faso’s Interim Leader Captain Ibrahim Traoré met with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin in July 2023 at a meeting in Saint Petersburg. This interaction took place amid growing tensions in the African country, particularly regarding freedom of the press.

The government of Burkina Faso has recently suspended radio stations belonging to the British BBC and Voice of America, both of which had reported on a report by the NGO Human Rights Watch (HRW) detailing mass executions carried out by the country’s army. The report stated that 223 civilians, including 56 children, were killed by the army in villages accused of collaborating with militants.

As a result of these reports, two radio stations have been suspended for two weeks and warnings have been issued to other press organizations against publishing information related to the HRW report. This move was seen as an attempt to suppress information and control the narrative surrounding alleged human rights abuses.

Burkina Faso has faced a security crisis since 2015, with jihadist groups and power struggles leading to the deaths of over 20,000 people and displacement of more than 2 million Burkinabés. The country has experienced political instability, including two coups d’état in 2022, further exacerbating the situation.

In response to this crisis, Burkina Faso has distanced itself from its former colonial power France and sought military assistance from Russia. This shift in alliances has raised concerns about human rights abuses and potential violations of press freedom in the country. Recently, three French diplomats were expelled from Burkina Faso for engaging in “subversive activities.”