Burkina Faso: Three journalists arrested, HRW denounces increased repression
A new attack on press freedom
Media repression intensifies in Burkina Faso. On March 24, 2025, three prominent journalists were arrested by the authorities, including the heads of the Burkina Journalists Association (AJB). The NGO Human Rights Watch (HRW ) has denounced the military authorities’ determination to control information and stifle any dissident voices.
Targeted and disturbing arrests
The journalists questioned are :
- Guezouma Sanogo, President of AJB
- Boukari Ouoba, AJB vice-president
- Luc Pagbelguem, journalist, BF1 channel
These arrests were carried out by plainclothes police officers, and their place of detention remains unknown, fuelling fears of enforced disappearance. A few days earlier, the AJB had held a press conference denouncing the restrictions imposed on the media by the military junta in power since the 2022 coup.
Accelerating repression
The day after the arrests, the government dissolved the AJB, stepping up the pressure on the independent media. This offensive against the press comes at a time when the military regime is justifying its actions by the fight against the jihadist insurgency that is sweeping the country.
Conclusion: Freedom increasingly under threat
The arrest of these journalists and the dissolution of the AJB mark a worrying escalation in the repression of the media in Burkina Faso. At a time when press freedom is being curtailed, human rights organizations are calling for international mobilization to protect journalists and guarantee access to free and independent information.
