A PROMINENT investigative newspaper in Burkina Faso, L’Evenement, has halted its publication following the kidnapping of its publishing director, Atiana Serge Oulon. The suspension comes amidst growing concerns over press freedom in the country.
In June, armed men reportedly abducted Oulon from his home, forcing him into a minibus. According to Reporters Without Borders (RSF), the kidnappers later returned to his house, identifying themselves as secret service agents, and seized his computer and phone. The identity of the abductors remains unknown, and details of the incident have not been independently verified.
The suspension of L’Evenement marks a significant setback for independent journalism in Burkina Faso, a country where military leaders, who came to power in a 2022 coup, have been criticised for suppressing dissent in the name of national security. Human rights organisations like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch (HRW) have accused the junta of kidnapping and coercing critics into silence.
In June, the authorities had already suspended the newspaper’s publication, but L’Evenement successfully contested this action in court a month later. Despite winning the legal battle, the newspaper is now off the market due to circumstances beyond the staff’s control. In a statement, the managing director cited the absence of Oulon as a major factor but did not provide further details.
The situation underscores the precarious state of press freedom in Burkina Faso. Earlier this year, the government also suspended BBC Africa and Voice of America (VOA) broadcasts over their coverage of a Human Rights Watch report that accused the army of extrajudicial killings.
Burkina Faso’s government has yet to comment on the kidnapping or the newspaper’s suspension, leaving the fate of L’Evenement and its staff uncertain as the country grapples with increasing restrictions on the media.
