Burkina Faso issues terrorism warrants for journalists

Burkinabe authorities said Friday they had issued arrest warrants for journalists, activists, a former minister and former officers in exile over alleged terrorism offences.

Ouagadougou Court of Appeal attorney general Desire Sawadogo said 14 arrest warrants with extradition requests had been issued, along with seven further standard warrants.

Those targeted include Newton Ahmed Barry, a journalist for Radio France Internationale, former foreign minister Djibril Bassole, several officers and cyberactivists. Ivorian influencer Camille Makosso, known for criticism of Sahel region juntas and followed by about four million people on social media, is also among those targeted.

Authorities accuse those named of offences including complicity in forming a terrorist criminal organisation, complicity in the financing of terrorism, forming a terrorist criminal organisation, glorifying terrorism and incitement to rebellion.

Sawadogo said “media such as France 24” were also in the authorities' sights. He said more than six cases involving more than 45 individuals and legal entities were under investigation by Burkina Faso's specialised anti-terror judicial unit.

The Public Prosecutor's Office also said it had sought Meta's cooperation to identify administrators of pages whose contributors were accused of glorifying terrorism and to bring legal proceedings against the posts' authors.

Burkina Faso has faced jihadist violence for a decade. It is governed by a junta that seized power in September 2022 and has cracked down on criticism.