By Lucy Adautin
Following the dissemination of news reports regarding a Human Rights Watch accusing the Burkinabè army of civilian abuses, Burkina Faso has temporarily suspended the programs of Voice of America and BBC/Africa.
The Superior Council of Communication issued an order on Thursday, immediately halting rebroadcasts and suspending the programs of both international radio stations for a period of two weeks.
Additionally, access to the websites and digital platforms of BBC, VOA, and Human Rights Watch was suspended within Burkina Faso.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) stated that soldiers in Burkina Faso’s jihadist-hit north had killed at least 223 villagers, including 56 children, in two revenge attacks on February 25.
“The programmes of these two international radio networks broadcasting from Ouagadougou have been suspended for a period of two weeks,” the communications authority (CSC) announced late on Thursday.
The decision was made because BBC Africa and VOA aired and published a report on their digital platforms “accusing the Burkina army of abuses against the civilian population,” according to the body.
The report contained “hasty and biased declarations without tangible proof against the Burkinabe army,” the CSC stated.
Burkina Faso has not commented on the report. The West African nation has been battered by a jihadist insurgence that swept in from neighboring Mali in 2015.
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