Burkina Faso’s Interim Leader Meets with Putin Amid Tensions and Press Suppression

In July 2023, the “interim” leader of Burkina Faso, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, met with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin at a meeting in Saint Petersburg. This encounter took place amid escalating tensions in the African country, particularly regarding freedom of the press.

The government of Burkina Faso recently suspended the radio stations of the British BBC and Voice of America, both of which had reported on a report by the NGO Human Rights Watch (HRW) detailing mass executions carried out by the country’s army. The report stated that 223 civilians, including 56 children, were killed by the army in villages accused of collaborating with militants.

In response to these reports, the government of Burkina Faso suspended the two radio stations for two weeks and issued warnings to other press organizations against publishing information related to the HRW report. This move was seen as an attempt to suppress information and control the narrative surrounding the alleged human rights abuses.

Burkina Faso has been facing a security crisis since 2015, with jihadist groups and power struggles leading to the deaths of over 20,000 people and the displacement of more than 2 million Burkinabés. The country has experienced political instability, including two coups d’état in 2022, further exacerbating the situation.

As tensions continue to rise in Burkina Faso, concerns about human rights abuses and potential violations of press freedom remain high. The government’s decision to expel three French diplomats earlier this year also raised eyebrows about its commitment to democratic principles and respect for international norms.