RSF expresses concern about government control of media in Burkina Faso
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso (PANA) - Reporters Without Borders (RSF) voiced its concern on Tuesday about the adoption of a law that will increase government control over the media in Burkina Faso.
A new law passed by Burkina Faso's parliament on 21 November will radically change the way the country's Supreme Council for Communication (CSC) is organized.
"This is a new step towards the "patriotic treatment" of information cherished by Captain Ibrahim Traoré," RSF said in a note.
The text passed by Burkina Faso's parliament now allows the head of state to appoint the president of the CSC himself.
Previously, the president was appointed by the Collège des sages, a nine-member body of the CSC, six of whom were appointed by the government in power - three by the head of state, one by the president of the National Assembly, one by the president of the Senate and one by the president of the Constitutional Council - and three by professional media associations.
At least five members should work in journalism, broadcasting and communications.
The text of the law, which is due to be promulgated shortly and which RSF was able to consult, also stipulates that the CSC's authority will be exercised over the content of publications by bloggers, web-activists - who campaign for a cause by defending it through publications on social networks - influencers or any Internet user with at least 5,000 subscribers, friends or followers.
"The passage of this new law increases the government's control over the country's media landscape and social networks. Everything is now in place for the executive to sanction journalists, media outlets and influencers as it sees fit.
"With this new law, the risk of the regulatory body being used as a tool has never been greater," says RSF, which calls on the Head of State not to promulgate the law as it stands and to amend it to guarantee the independence of the CSC, before sending it back to the Assembly.
-0- PANA TNDD/JSG/SOC/BBA/RA 28Nov2023
