PAN Calls on Burkino Faso to Lift Ban on Media Activities

The PEN Africa Network (PAN), the umbrella body of PEN International Centres in Africa, calls on the authorities of Burkino Faso to immediately lift the three-month suspension of live political broadcasts by the country’s media. Burkino Faso goes to the polls in October after former President, Blaise Compaore, was forced out of office in a popular uprising in October 2014.

With Burkino Faso going to the polls in October, it is baffling that the media, which are the main channel through which the citizenry would be getting information on candidates to enable them to make informed choices, should be barred from making political broadcasts.

The ban automatically renders the preparation towards the impending election and the election itself suspicious, and this could affect the results of the election and possibly affect the peaceful and smooth transition the people of Burkino Faso are anxious to see.

According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), le Conseil superieur de la communication (the High Council for Communication), the country’s media regulatory body, in a statement on May 12, declared a three-month suspension of live political broadcasts by TV and radio stations.

PAN therefore calls on the interim government and the High Council for Communication to immediately remove the ban as it infringes on the rights of the people of Burkino Faso to access information on political events.
PAN also calls on the Ecowas Chairman, President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana, and other Ecowas leaders, as well as the African Union to prevail on the authorities of Burkino Faso to immediately lift the sanctions.

As the world strives to promote free speech and freedom of expression, it is important for Ecowas and the AU to ensure that no country draws the African continent back on its gradual but smooth transition to democracy.

Dr Frankie Asare-Donkoh
Secretary-General
PEN Africa Network (PAN)

Click here to read the Committee to Protect Journalist’s article.