Media in Burkina Faso

In Burkina Faso, the authorities tend to respect freedom of the media. But there are serious exceptions. The Information Code, implemented in 1993, allows for news outlets to be arbitrarily banned if "accused of endangering national security or distributing false news." [http://www.freemedia.at/wpfr/Africa/burkinaf.htm]

In August 2002, police in Burkina Faso arrested Newton Ahmed Barry, editor-in-chief of the private monthly "L'Evénement". Barry was held for two days before being released without charge.

Mathieu N’do, managing editor of the opposition weekly "San Finna", was detained by authorities on November 5, 2004 as he was returning from Ivory Coast. His detention may have been linked to his journalistic work, which is often critical of the Burkina Faso government. In particular, N’do has been an outspoken critic of government policy in Ivory Coast where Burkina Faso has been accused of arming the rebellion. N'do was held incommunicado by Burkina Faso’s national security service in Ouagadougou until being released without charge on November 11. [http://www.cpj.org/cases04/africa_cases04/burkina.html]

Print media

*"L'Indépendant", weekly, founded in 1993. [http://www.independant.bf/]
*"Le Pays", daily, founded in 1991. [http://www.lepays.bf/]
*"Le Journal du Jeudi", satirical weekly. [http://www.journaldujeudi.com/]
*"Observateur Paalga", daily with a weekly supplement, originally founded in 1973, burnt down in 1984, reestablished in 1991. [http://www.lobservateur.bf/]
*"San Finna", weekly appearing Mondays, since 1999. [http://www.sanfinna.com/]
*"Sidwaya", daily. [http://www.sidwaya.bf/]
*"L'Hebdomadaire du Burkina", weekly.
*"L'Evénement", monthly.
*"L'Opinion", weekly. [http://www.zedcom.bf/]

Links to Burkina Faso's print media are listed at the BurkinaOnline portal. [http://www.burkinaonline.bf/]

Television

*"Télévision Nationale du Burkina" (est. 1963 as "Volta-vision") state-run. [http://www.tnb.bf/]

Radio

*RTB
*Ouaga FM
*Horizon FM
*Radio Salankoloto
*AM 3, FM 17, shortwave 3 (2002)

News agencies

*"Agence d'Information du Burkina" (est. 1964 as "L'Agence Voltaïque de Presse"). Government press agency. [http://www.aib.bf/]

ee also

* Communications in Burkina Faso