Forty-four Burkinabe journalists, from both public and private media outlets, participated for several days in military training organized at the Pabré Police Academy, near Ouagadougou. Presented by the authorities as a "patriotic immersion," this session is now to be held annually by order of the junta led by Captain Ibrahim Traoré.
The participants, men and women from various regions of the country, underwent training from Sunday to Friday. Images broadcast by the public television station RTB showed them in military uniform, standing at attention or holding rifles, as well as during physical exercises and group singing. The Minister of Communication, Pingdwendé Gilbert Ouédraogo, asked them if they would become "patriotic and professional" journalists, stating that a media professional lacking patriotism posed a threat to their country.
A measure that raises questions about press freedom
The director of the Police Academy, Lassina Traoré, states that this training should enable journalists to understand the operational realities and values of the defense and security forces. The Minister of Security, Mahamadou Sana, hopes to make it an annual tradition and plans to gradually extend this type of program to other professional categories. Similar training has been mandatory for high school graduates since 2025.
This decision comes amid a tightening of control over information. Since the 2022 coup, several media outlets have been suspended, and the military authorities claim to be pursuing a sovereignist policy opposed to Western influence. The government justifies its patriotic mobilization by citing the jihadist violence that has plagued Burkina Faso since 2015, resulting in thousands of deaths and mass displacement. However, the requirement for journalists to undergo military training fuels concerns about their independence and the space afforded to critical reporting.
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