Burkina Faso exiles fear junta's reach in Ivory Coast

Burkinabe journalists and a judicial officer who fled to Ivory Coast say they left to avoid conscription, threats and repression under the military government led by Ibrahim Traore.

AFP interviewed four people from the media and judiciary, using changed names for security reasons. They said returning to Burkina Faso remains uncertain while they try to live quietly among Ivory Coast's Burkinabe diaspora, which numbers about four million people, including more than 72,000 refugees.

Boukary, a judicial officer, said he was summoned in late 2024 to be conscripted into the army and sent to fight jihadist groups. He said he believed the call-up was punitive and linked to a legal case involving one of Traore's allies. He left Burkina Faso the next day and later reunited with his wife and child in Ivory Coast.

International NGOs accuse Burkina Faso's military government of using a 2023 civilian mobilisation order to forcibly enlist and silence critical voices.

Adama, a journalist, said he received a conscription notice at the end of 2023 while outside the country and has not returned. He said journalists in Burkina Faso now have to keep quiet to remain safe. In Ivory Coast, he has reduced his public profile but continues to work as a journalist and train young investigative reporters.

Another journalist, Ousmane, said he crossed into Ivory Coast in late 2023 and now works under a pseudonym. He said he still receives daily threats online and that supporters of Burkina Faso's authorities have revealed his location after social media posts.

Burkina Faso has pointed to dissidents living in Ivory Coast as it accuses the Ivorian government of trying to destabilise it. Ivorian authorities deny the claim.

Salifou, a journalist who left Burkina Faso more than two years ago, said he would need to be sure he was not at risk of being kidnapped before returning home. He said many international media outlets covering Burkina Faso have faced suspensions or bans, while correspondents have often been expelled.