Ouagadougou: Burkinabe Prime Minister Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo declared Wednesday that public media outlets, facing unfounded criticism, are “on the right side of history” in the ongoing battle to restore the nation’s territorial integrity.
According to Burkina Information Agency, Ouédraogo, who previously served as a journalist and director of RTB/Télé, visited the public media studios to express his support for the workers at AIB, Sidwaya, and RTB. These outlets had been criticized by Guézouma Sanogo, the president of the former Association of Journalists of Burkina Faso (AJB), during a recent assembly.
The Prime Minister praised the efforts of the public media, affirming that they are fulfilling their responsibilities and aligning with current national needs. He stressed the importance of communication in the fight against terrorism, noting that public media play a crucial role in maintaining morale among the Defense and Security Forces (FDS) and the Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland (VD
P).
Ouédraogo, along with Communications Minister Gilbert Ouédraogo and senior media officials, encouraged media workers to stay vigilant. He emphasized that when victory is achieved, those involved should take pride in their contributions. Communications Minister Gilbert Ouédraogo highlighted the national solidarity that has emerged in support of public media, reinforcing their patriotic role.
RTB’s Director General reiterated the commitment of media workers to serve the Burkinabe people, despite the criticisms made by Sanogo during the AJB’s General Assembly on March 21.
In response to the broadcast of Sanogo’s comments, the Higher Council for Communication (CSC) fined the private television station BF1 500,000 CFA francs and suspended journalist Luc Pagbelguem for two weeks.