Burkina: Media, withdrawal of the French army in Niger and justice, on the daily menu

Burkinabè newspapers, in their publications this Friday, address, among other subjects, that concerning justice with the trial of the fine coal affair, that relating to the withdrawal of French forces in Niger, without forgetting the exit of the Professional Media Organizations (OPM) regarding the bill relating to the Superior Council of Communication (CSC).

‘Draft law on the CSC: The OPM denounces a democratic setback, the government and the ALT challenged,’ says the private newspaper Le Pays, which reports that the Professional Media Organizations (OPM) hosted a press conference yesterday, Thursday in Ouagadougou.

According to the newspaper, after expressing their opposition to the bill on the Higher Communication Council (CSC), the organizers of the press conference challenged the government and the deputies of the Transitional Legislative Assembly (ALT).

In this regard, the newspaper Le Quotidien reads on its headline: ‘Designation of the president of the CSC by the president of Faso: professional
media organizations oppose’.

At the same time, L’Express du Faso, a private daily published in Bobo-Dioulasso, speaks of ‘a total negation by the power of press freedom’.

As for L’Observateur Paalga, the dean of Burkina Faso’s private dailies, it displays on the front page an extract from the declaration of the presenters of the press conference where it appears that “the President of the Transition wants butter and butter money.’

These remarks were made by Guézouma Sanogo, also president of the Steering Committee of the Norbert Zongo Press Center.

Observer Paalga recalls that the Burkinabè government, during the council of ministers on October 4, adopted a bill relating to the attribution, composition, organization and operation of the CSC.

According to the newspaper, the OPM believe that “if the said project passes as is, it will represent a serious democratic setback and in terms of the independence of this regulatory body with a clear desire to corporatize it and will constitute a real threat to the
profession of journalism in our country.

The same newspaper, in its section ”A Letter for Laye”, wonders if it is a “double backflip of the CSC?” “.

In its ”Look at current events”, L’Observateur Paalga, returns to the withdrawal of French troops in Niger, reading on its front page: “New sign of a twilight of ancient times”.

On the same news, Le Quotidien simply headlines in its section ”Worthy of interest: “Niger: the operation to disengage French troops begins this week”.

Meanwhile, Today in Faso, another private daily, headlines: ‘Disengagement of the French Army in Niger: A big logistical and organizational challenge’.

The newspaper’s editorialist points out that after more than two months of intense standoff and permanent tensions with the new power resulting from the coup d’état which defeated President Mohamed Bazoum (still detained), France will begin its operational withdrawal from Niger.

He adds that ‘it is through a press release of less than ten lines that the Ministry of the Armed Forc
es announced on Thursday October 5, 2023, to formally begin the preparation of the withdrawal of some 1,500 French soldiers immobilized in Niger since the coup d state which overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum on July 26.

And to mention that ‘this announcement comes a little less than two weeks after the Head of State, Emmanuel Macron, ended up accepting on September 24, the departure of French soldiers, vehemently demanded by the Nigerien putschists, since the beginning of August.

Under another chapter, the national daily Sidwaya informs that the trial of the ‘Fine coal’ case summarized, yesterday Thursday, October 5, 2023, at the Ouaga I High Court, with notifications of charges to the defendants.

According to the newspaper, the defendants in the trial pleaded not guilty. ‘At the bar, they did not admit the accusations against them. Regardless, the Court allowed the defense to reconsider the remarks,’ reports Sidwaya.

He emphasizes that to this end, the defense considers that the expertise on fine coal m
ust relate to each element of the substances.

For its part, Today in Faso observes that “the parties (are) divided on the continuation of the expertise”, while L’Observateur Paalga notes that “the defense always raises irregularities”.

Le Pays, for its part, headlines: ‘Fine coal trial: The court wants to see the ‘gold ingots’ this morning’, specifying that the 130 kilograms of metals presented as ‘gold ingots’ will be presented at the bar this Friday morning at the Ouagadougou high court

Source: Burkina Information Agency