Burkina Faso Orders Mandatory “Patriotic” Military Training for Journalists

Burkina Faso Orders Mandatory “Patriotic” Military Training for Journalists

Burkina Faso has introduced mandatory military-style “patriotic” training for journalists working in both public and private media, as the government seeks to mobilize society against the country’s jihadist insurgency.

The first group of 44 journalists reportedly completed six days of training at a police academy near Ouagadougou. The program included military uniforms, weapons handling and lessons focused on patriotism.

The government says the initiative is intended to strengthen national unity and support the fight against armed jihadist groups, which have been active in Burkina Faso since 2015.

Critics, however, are likely to view the measure as another sign of increasing pressure on the media under Captain Ibrahim Traoré’s military government, raising concerns about journalistic independence and freedom of the press.

The move also sets a striking precedent in Burkina Faso: journalists are being treated not only as reporters, but as participants in the country’s broader “patriotic” mobilization.

From pens to rifles, Burkina Faso is bringing the media into its national security campaign.

Source: Government of Captain Ibrahim Traoré