Russian Dictator Putin Meets with Burkina Faso Interim Leader Amid Human Rights Crisis and Crackdown on Press Freedom

Captain Ibrahim Traoré, the interim leader of Burkina Faso, was seen greeting Russian dictator Vladimir Putin at a meeting in Saint Petersburg in July 2023. This interaction took place amid growing tensions in the African country, particularly regarding freedom of the press.

Burkina Faso has been facing a security crisis since 2015, with jihadist groups and power struggles leading to the deaths of over 20,000 people and the displacement of more than 2 million Burkinabés. The country has experienced political instability, including two coups d’état in 2022, further exacerbating the situation.

The government of Burkina Faso recently suspended the radio stations of the British BBC and Voice of America, both of which had reported on a report by the NGO Human Rights Watch (HRW) detailing mass executions carried out by the country’s army. The report stated that 223 civilians, including 56 children, were killed by the army in villages accused of collaborating with militants.

As a result of these reports, the government of Burkina Faso suspended the two radio stations for two weeks and issued warnings to other press organizations against publishing information related to the HRW report. This move was seen as an attempt to suppress information and control the narrative surrounding the alleged human rights abuses.

In response to this crackdown on press freedom, there have been calls for international intervention and sanctions against Burkina Faso from human rights organizations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. However, Russia has provided military assistance to Burkina Faso’s government as part of its efforts to strengthen its influence in Africa and counter Western influence in the region.

Burkina Faso’s shift away from traditional colonial powers like France towards Russia raises concerns about human rights abuses and potential violations of press freedom in the country. As tensions continue to rise between Russia and other Western nations, it remains to be seen how this will affect Burkina Faso’s future development and stability.