In July 2023, Burkina Faso’s interim leader, Captain Ibrahim Traore, met with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg amid rising tensions in the African country. The meeting came as the government suspended two radio stations for two weeks and issued warnings to other journalistic organizations not to publish information related to a report by Human Rights Watch (HRV) detailing mass executions by the country’s military. The report said 223 civilians, including 56 children, were killed by the army in villages accused of collaborating with militants.
Burkina Faso has been facing a security crisis since 2015, with jihadist groups and a power struggle leading to the deaths of over 20,000 people and the displacement of more than 2 million Burkinabes. The country has experienced political instability, including two coups in 2022 which further exacerbated the situation.
In response to the security crisis, Burkina Faso distanced itself from its former colonial power, France and sought military assistance from Russia. This shift in alliances has raised concerns about human rights violations and potential violations of press freedom in the country. Recently, the government also expelled three French diplomats, accusing them of “subversive activities.”