By Queen Kunde Enoch
The Congress of African Journalists (CAJ) has urgently called for the immediate release of three journalists detained in Burkina Faso and forcibly conscripted into the armed forces. The detained journalists—Guezouma Sanogo, president of the Association of Burkinabe Journalists (AJB), his deputy Boukari Ouoba, and Luc Pagbelguem, a reporter for the private TV station BFI—were arrested by National Security Council intelligence officers on March 24.
Sanogo and Ouoba were detained following their vocal criticism of the increasing violations of press freedom during the AJB Congress. Meanwhile, Pagbelguem’s arrest was directly linked to his media outlet’s coverage of the congress, where Sanogo had also advocated for the release of four other journalists who were abducted and conscripted into the army in 2024.
A video emerged online last week, showing the three journalists in military uniforms, surrounded by armed men in Burkinabe army uniforms at an undisclosed location. This alarming footage has sparked widespread condemnation from press freedom organizations worldwide, with the CAJ leading the charge. The organization has called on the Burkinabe authorities to release the detained journalists without delay and ensure that press freedom is upheld within the country.
“We call on the Burkinabe authorities to immediately release the detained journalists and ensure journalists and media outlets can operate freely,” said Christopher Isiguzo, president of CAJ. He further expressed concern over the intensifying crackdown on journalists and media outlets in Burkina Faso, which has included the suspension of AJB’s operations.
This escalating repression is fueling fear and self-censorship among journalists in the region, according to Isiguzo, who warned that these actions undermine the essential right to freedom of expression and access to information. The CAJ president also emphasized the need for a broader focus on the other journalists who have fallen victim to the government’s repressive actions.
The CAJ has also called for the release of three additional journalists—Serge Oulon, editor-in-chief of L’Evénement newspaper, Adama Bayala, and Kalifara Sere from BF1, a private TV channel—who were forcibly conscripted into the army in 2024. These individuals went missing in June 2024, with the authorities later confirming their conscription in October 2024. Additionally, the whereabouts of Alain Traore, a columnist with Omega Media, remain unknown. Traore was seized by masked gunmen in July 2024, and the authorities have refused to provide any updates on his condition or location.
As the government’s crackdown intensifies, many journalists have fled Burkina Faso in fear of arrest and forced conscription. Prominent journalist Newton Ahmed Barry, for example, was placed on a list of individuals “wanted for association with a terrorist organization” by the Burkinabe authorities on April 1, 2025.
The plight of journalists continues to be a key issue in Burkina Faso. During the AJB Congress, further concerns were raised regarding the disappearances of several other journalists, including Bienvenue Apiou, James Yazid Dembele, and Mamadou Ali. These ongoing threats against the press are stark indicators of the deteriorating conditions for media professionals in the country.
In light of these troubling developments, the CAJ remains vigilant, calling on international organizations and governments to exert pressure on the Burkinabe government to respect the rights of journalists and ensure their safe return to their families and communities.
The CAJ has committed to closely monitoring the situation and is urging the international community to unite in the fight for press freedom in Burkina Faso.
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