Burkina Faso / Media manipulation: RFI and its campaign against the regime of Captain Ibrahim Traoré

The article published by RFI titled “Burkina Faso: Judges Sent to the Front Lines, Government Accused of Trying to Control the Judiciary” is a blatant attempt to discredit Captain Ibrahim Traoré’s administration by using unfounded and biased allegations. According to the article, Traoré’s regime allegedly sent judges to the front lines, supposedly as a means of punishing or controlling them—a highly questionable interpretation of the facts.

RFI’s use of this information appears to be more about spreading imperialist propaganda aimed at tarnishing the image of the Burkinabe government and undermining its efforts to stabilize the country.

The accusation that Traoré’s administration is manipulating the judicial system by sending judges to the front lines is not only baseless but also deliberately provocative. In reality, this measure is part of a broader effort to mobilize all available resources against the security threats facing Burkina Faso, allowing them to experience the realities firsthand. It is a pragmatic approach in a time of crisis, not an attempt at control or repression as the RFI article suggests.

By highlighting specific documents, RFI seeks to create an impression of abuse of power without providing substantial evidence to support these claims. This style of reporting is characteristic of an attempt to manipulate public opinion rather than offering an objective and balanced analysis of the situation. Such an approach clearly aims to damage the reputation of the Burkinabé government by exploiting decontextualized information.

It is crucial to exercise discernment when faced with articles like RFI’s, which seek to advance imperialist agendas at the expense of truth and the stability of the countries concerned. The situation in Burkina Faso is complex and deserves honest media coverage that respects the ongoing efforts to secure the country, rather than falling into misinformation and baseless accusations.

Read also: Burkina Faso: Suspension of Radio France Internationale (RFI) for broadcasting “intimidation messages” and “false information”

Sadia Nyaoré