Burkina Faso’s military ruler, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, on Monday urged a total boycott of what he called imperialist media, distorting the narrative in his country.
He was presiding over the traditional flag-raising ceremony marking the launch of the second phase of the National Days of Patriotic Commitment and Citizen Participation (JEPPC).
During the ceremony, the Head of State paid tribute to African media professionals and instructed public institutions to withdraw their participation from Western-owned media outlets.
Traoré commended the successful organisation of the African Communication Universities of Ouagadougou (UACO) and expressed appreciation for the work of BIR-C (Bloggers, Influencers, and Citizen Reporters) as well as the Wayiyans — digital activists known for countering what he described as the “false narratives” propagated by “imperialist” media.
According to the Presidency, Captain Traoré urged Africans to disengage from such media, which they continue to support financially — whether through shareholding or subscriptions — even though their narratives, he said, undermine African interests.
As part of this directive, the Burkinabè leader instructed state-owned enterprises to divest from the capital of these outlets and called on government ministries to cancel all subscription contracts with them.
This stance forms part of Burkina Faso’s broader vision of full sovereignty, which includes the information and narrative dimensions. The second phase of the JEPPC is currently underway across the country.
HO/ac/lb/as/APA