The Burkinabé authorities have announced that they have issued arrest warrants for 21 people, including journalists, militants, former ministers, and former officers in exile, on suspicion of terrorism-related crimes. The move is the latest effort by the country's junta to crack down on dissent and opposition. The warrants were issued by the prosecutor general of the Ouagadougou Court of Appeal, Désiré Sawadogo.
According to Sawadogo, 14 of the arrest warrants include extradition requests, while seven are simple arrest warrants. The individuals targeted include several journalists, such as Newton Ahmed Barry, who currently writes for Radio France Internationale (RFI). Others include Djibril Bassolé, a former minister and close associate of the Compaoré regime in the 2000s, as well as former officers and cyberactivists.
The individuals in question are accused of various crimes, including complicity with terrorist organizations, financing terrorism, and inciting rebellion. Sawadogo stated that some of these individuals, from abroad, have chosen to "betray their country by joining the enemy," including by becoming social media commentators. The warrants are part of a broader effort by the Burkinabé authorities to suppress opposition and dissent.
The Ivoirian influencer Camille Makosso, known for his criticism of Sahelian juntas and followed by 4 million people on Facebook, is also targeted by the Burkinabé justice system, although not by an arrest warrant. The Burkinabé justice ministry has called for Makosso to be prosecuted in his country of residence, Côte d'Ivoire, under international judicial cooperation.
The Burkinabé authorities have also opened an investigation into media outlets such as France 24 and their correspondents, including Wassim Nasr, a terrorism expert. This is not the first time Nasr has been targeted by Sahelian juntas; in September 2024, the juntas of Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali announced investigations into Nasr, whom they accused of having ties to jihadist groups.
The Burkinabé authorities are seeking extradition from several countries, including Côte d'Ivoire, the United States, and France, for some of those targeted by the arrest warrants. According to Sawadogo, over six cases involving more than 45 individuals and entities are currently under investigation by the specialized judicial pole for the repression of terrorist acts.
The Burkinabé authorities have also requested cooperation from Meta to identify administrators of social media pages accused of promoting terrorism and to bring charges against authors of incriminated publications. The move is part of a broader effort to suppress online activity seen as supportive of terrorism. The warrants and investigations reflect the increasingly repressive environment in Burkina Faso under the junta that took power in 2022.
Key points
- The Burkinabé authorities have issued arrest warrants for 21 people, including journalists and exiled militants, on terrorism-related charges.
- The individuals targeted include several journalists, former ministers, and officers in exile, accused of crimes such as complicity with terrorist organizations and financing terrorism.
- The Burkinabé authorities are seeking extradition from several countries, including Côte d'Ivoire, the United States, and France.
