An unusual sight unfolded in Burkina Faso recently as 44 journalists, both from public and private media outlets, traded their notepads for military fatigues. For nearly a week, these media professionals underwent rigorous military training at the Police Academy in Pabré, located just outside Ouagadougou. The initiative, organized by the Ministry of Security, ran from Sunday to Friday and included drills with weapons, physical exercises, and patriotic singing sessions.

The Minister of Communication, Pingdwendé Gilbert Ouédraogo, set the tone by questioning whether the journalists would commit to becoming “patriotic and professional journalists.” The room erupted in unison with a resounding “Affirmative.”

Government defends military training for journalists

Burkina Faso’s authorities have fully endorsed this controversial program. Lassina Traoré, Director General of the Police Academy, stated that the training aims to acquaint journalists with the operational realities and values of the defense and security forces. Security Minister Mahamadou Sana went further, announcing plans to institutionalize this training as an annual tradition for media professionals. The initiative may eventually extend to other socio-professional groups. For the government, this immersion is crucial to fostering patriotism amid a prolonged jihadist insurgency that has gripped the nation for years.

Press freedom advocates sound alarm

The move has drawn sharp criticism from press freedom advocates. Reporters Without Borders condemned the initiative as “a deeply troubling signal for press freedom.” The organization emphasized that journalists must remain neutral observers, not instruments of wartime propaganda. It urged Burkina Faso’s authorities to uphold media independence and resist turning journalists into mouthpieces for the state’s war efforts.

Mounting pressure on Burkina Faso’s media landscape

This military training comes at a particularly tense time for journalists in Burkina Faso. Since the 2022 coup led by Captain Ibrahim Traoré, several media outlets have faced suspensions, and critical voices have been systematically silenced. Reports from human rights organizations indicate that journalists and other regime critics have been forcibly conscripted to join the fight against jihadist groups. Meanwhile, the government frames its actions as part of a “sovereign and progressive popular revolution.”

War as justification for militarization

Since 2015, Burkina Faso has been grappling with an insurgency led by armed groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. The conflict has claimed thousands of lives and displaced millions. In this context, the junta has intensified national mobilization efforts. However, the announcement of mandatory annual military training for journalists raises a critical question: How far can a nation at war push its patriotic mobilization without compromising the independence of those tasked with informing the public? For Reporters Without Borders, the answer is unequivocal—journalists must remain journalists, even in times of conflict.