The move comes after both outlets broadcast reports based on a Human Rights Watch (HRW) investigation accusing the Burkinabé army of civilian killings.
The CSC criticized the BBC and VOA for violating “cardinal principles of news reporting” and spreading “disinformation likely to discredit the Burkinabe army.” The council further expressed concern that the broadcasts could “cause public disorder.”
This recent action is part of a broader trend in Burkina Faso. The country, currently under military rule, has suspended several other Western media outlets in recent months, including French broadcasters France24 and RFI, and print publications like Le Monde and Jeune Afrique.
The suspension of BBC and VOA raises concerns about freedom of the press in Burkina Faso. Critics argue that the government is trying to control the narrative surrounding the ongoing conflict and human rights abuses.
DS/ac/lb/abj/APA