Burkina Faso scolds France24 for referring to jihadists as “Islamist rebels”

Burkina Faso’s media watchdog Conseil Supérieur de la Communication (CSC) has given a notice to French media France24 for unprofessionalism after the outlet allegedly reported that government source referred to terrorists who abducted last month dozens of women as “Islamist rebels”.

The warning came Tuesday following a hearing which took place last January 24.

The regulator accuses the French state-run international media of failing to respect the ethical principles, in particular, the respect of the accuracy and the truth of the facts.

The French channel in a reporting last month about the kidnapping of around 60 women, in a scrolling strip, said that the women were abducted by “Islamist rebels”, citing the Transitional government as the source, while the latter had attributed the abduction to “armed terrorist groups” in a statement, the CSC said.

The regulator stressed that referring to the terrorists as Islamist rebels, gives a “serious nature” to the perpetrators of the kidnapping of the women in Arbinda and may “further undermine the peaceful coexistence of religions and jeopardize” the efforts of the authorities.

In addition, CSC notes that a repetition of the offense will cost the media suspension of the license.
Early December last year, Burkina Faso authorities suspended French radio RFI until further notice for propaganda and dissemination of false information.