French correspondents Agnes Faivre and Sophie Douce deported from Burkina Faso. Officials ordered both journalists to leave the country without providing a reason.
On April 1st, Libération’s Agnes Faivre and Le Monde Afrique’s Sophie Douce were expelled from Burkina Faso without cause. A day earlier, the journalists were interrogated separately for over an hour by police in Ouagadougou. Officers questioned them about their travel, work, and an article published in Libération. The next day, they were visited by a plainclothes officer who told them they needed to leave the country within 24 hours.
Le Monde and Libération condemned the expulsions as a significant setback for press freedom in the former French colony. “We strongly protest against these unjustified expulsions and the ban on our journalists working independently,” said Libération in an editorial.
Neither journalist received written notification explaining their expulsion. Both journalists had valid accreditation and visas to work in the country.
French daily Libération believes that Burkinabé authorities are unhappy with a report published on March 27 exposing the apparent execution of children at a military barracks in a video.
According to Liberation, social media reports in Burkina Faso said the two journalists were accused of "infiltrating" the country, having been paid "large sums" to produce "false testimonies."
Libération “categorically refutes these ridiculous allegations. Agnes Faivre and Sophie Douce are journalists of perfect integrity,” said the paper.