Burkina Faso Junta Declares War on Dissent, Targets Journalists and Activists
Military government releases ‘terrorist’ blacklist, branding journalists and activists as threats, sparking global concerns over press freedom and civil liberties.
- Military regime accuses critics of terrorism
- Rights groups warn of increasing repression
- Press freedom and civil liberties under threat
Burkina Faso’s military government has intensified its suppression of dissent, releasing a list of 32 individuals—journalists, activists, and civil society figures—accused of ties to terrorism.
Published by the Security Ministry on Facebook, the list urges the public to provide information on their whereabouts, though no rewards were mentioned.
The West African nation, under military rule since a 2022 coup led by Captain Ibrahim Traoré, has faced relentless attacks from armed groups linked to Al-Qaeda and ISIS.
Among those named are prominent journalists Newton Ahmed Barry and Abdoulaye Barry, as well as exiled cyberactivists critical of the regime.
Critics warn this move signals a dangerous escalation in the junta’s assault on press freedom and civil liberties, with rights groups decrying increasing reports of abductions and repression since the coup.
