&w=3840&q=100)
Burkina Faso suspends Radio Omega over 'junta' Facebook post
A well-known radio station's licence was revoked by Burkina Faso on Saturday for allegedly derogatorily referring to the military government of the west African nation as a junta.
Some local journalists have been driven into exile, and a number of media sites, notably France's LCI, RFI, and France 24, have been suspended in Burkina Faso after Captain Ibrahim Traore took control in a coup in September 2022.
In a judgement released on Saturday, the Higher Council for Communication (CSC) of Burkina Faso declared that it was 'suspending Radio Omega's broadcasting licence for a period of three months.'
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
'During this period, Radio Omega is prohibited from broadcasting and from publishing on its platforms, including on its website and digital networks,' the CSC decision said.
In a report posted on the radio station's Facebook page on July 30, the Burkina Faso media regulatory body claimed to have 'observed shortcomings' and that it featured 'malicious and discourteous remarks toward the Burkinabe authorities.'
According to Radio Omega, 'Ivory Coast is regularly accused by the Burkinabe junta of harbouring opponents and fomenting plots.' The report discussed a protest in the capital, Ouagadougou, during a memorial to a Burkinabe figure who passed away in captivity in Abidjan, the main city of Ivory Coast.
'The expression 'Burkinabe junta', in addition to being inappropriate for referring to the Burkinabe authorities, is pejorative and insulting, suggesting contempt,' the CSC stated.
'Such a tendency by the media constitutes a malicious insinuation and seriously offends the Burkinabe authorities.'
In a statement released on Thursday, the radio station attributed the article's publication to 'a service provider' that had not been validated by the editorial management.
On Wednesday, Radio Omega – a subsidiary of the Omega Medias group, which also owns a television channel owned by journalist and former foreign minister Alpha Barry – issued a correction, removing the 'inappropriate expressions'.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
'Radio Omega demonstrates its persistent lack of rigour in the handling of information, despite a (previous) formal notice,' the CSC said.
It ordered the media outlet to 'publicly apologise to the Burkinabe authorities, its readers and listeners'.
In August 2023, Radio Omega was suspended for a month after broadcasting an interview with the spokesperson for a movement that wanted to reinstate Niger's former president Mohamed Bazoum, who had been overthrown in a coup.
The authorities alleged the article was 'peppered with insulting remarks against the new authorities' in Niger.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
3 hours ago
- The Hindu
Minister invites actor to partake of school midday meal
Minister for General Education V. Sivankutty has invited actor Kunchacko Boban to visit a government school during the midday meal. In a Facebook post on Tuesday in response to the actor's comments that better food was available in jails, the Minister said he would accompany the actor to a school. This would make the students happy. 'We can have lunch together with the students and know first-hand the midday meal menu and the taste of the food,' Mr. Sivankutty said. While inaugurating the Subiksham Thrikakkara breakfast scheme initiated by Uma Thomas, MLA, in the Thrikkakara Assembly constituency on Monday, the actor had said that any government should pay attention to creating best conditions for the innocent, not nurture criminals. This situation should change, he had said, expressing hope that the scheme became a success. The Minister, in his social media response, said graphics cards that said 'Best food should be given not in jails, but to students – Kunchacko Boban' first came to his attention. He listened to the actor's words since he wanted to know what was actually said. What the actor had said with good intentions was reported in this way, the Minister's post said. He went on to invite the actor to partake of a midday meal at a school.
News18
8 hours ago
- News18
Kerala To Eliminate Classroom 'Backbenchers', Form Panel To Decide Seating Arrangement
Last Updated: The idea of eliminating backbenchers has been discussed in Kerala for some time, inspired by the Malayalam film "Sthanarthi Sreekuttan." Backbenchers in Kerala's state-run schools will soon be a thing of the past, as the state plans to abolish traditional row-wise seating due to its negative impact on students. General Education Minister V Sivankutty announced on Tuesday that the government aims to eliminate the concept of 'backbenchers' in classrooms. In a Facebook post, he revealed that the general education department has decided to form an expert panel to determine the best seating arrangement for the education system. 'It has been decided to appoint a committee of experts to find out the best model suitable for our education system. Let us consider the suggestions of this panel and move forward," the minister posted. Sivankutty emphasised that the concept of backbenchers can harm a student's confidence and learning, and that no child should be left behind in their studies or life. 'Our goal is to ensure equal opportunities for all children. We are thinking about how to make this happen," he explained. He noted that many countries have adopted different models to eliminate the concept of backbenchers, and he called for everyone's support in securing a better future for the children. The idea of eliminating backbenchers has been discussed in Kerala for some time, inspired by the Malayalam film 'Sthanarthi Sreekuttan." In the film directed by Vinesh Viswanathan, a school student suggests changing the traditional seating arrangement after facing humiliation as a backbencher. Inspired by the movie, some schools in the state have already adopted a U-shaped seating pattern, ensuring equal attention and prominence for all students. Vinesh Vishwanathan, the director of the Malayalam film 'Sthanarthi Sreekuttan', had earlier said that he received a message from a school principal in Punjab. After watching the film, the principal not only adopted this classroom model in his school but also screened the movie for all the students. Meanwhile, in Rama Vilasom Vocational Higher Secondary School (RVGHSS) in Kerala, the students' chairs have already been arranged in a U shape. This setup allows teachers to monitor every student equally, eliminating the traditional backbencher system. With this new classroom arrangement, every student has the chance to sit in the front row. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
News18
10 hours ago
- News18
Tej Pratap Announces Alliance With VVIP For Bihar Polls, Says Tejashwi Won't Contest In Mahua
Last Updated: Tej Pratap Yadav, who was expelled from the RJD by his father, announced an alliance with the Vikas Vanchit Insan Party (VVIP). He earlier said he would contest from Mahua. Tej Pratap Yadav, who announced an alliance with the Vikas Vanchit Insan Party (VVIP) ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections, said his younger brother Tejashwi Yadav will not contest against him from the Mahua constituency. The former Bihar minister, who was expelled from the party on May 25 by his father Lalu Prasad for six years over his 'relationship" with a woman named Anushka, had previously announced that he would contest the upcoming Assembly elections from Mahua seat in Vaishali district as an independent candidate. Speaking to reporters, Tej Pratap said he was not on talking terms with Tejashwi Yadav but gave his blessings to his younger brother. 'Tejashwi Yadav won't contest from Mahua ever. I have always blessed him… No, we are not on talking terms," he said. VIDEO | Patna, Bihar: Responding to a question if his younger brother Tejashwi Yadav will contest against him from Mahua Assembly constituency, Tej Pratap Yadav (@TejYadav14) says, 'Tejashwi Yadav won't contest from Mahua ever. I have always blessed him… no, we are not… — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 5, 2025 Earlier today, Tej Pratap announced an alliance with the Vikas Vanchit Insan Party, led by Pradeep Nishad. 'Representatives of several parties are here and they all have agreed to support 'Team Tej Pratap'. We will together fight battle ahead. We are aware that it will be a challenging battle ahead," he said at the press conference. Without taking names, Tej Pratap said he was a victim of injustice and claimed that several people were out to 'break us". 'Many people would be thinking that we will be destroyed in this battle, but our unity is our strength," he added. Pradeep Nishad was previously an active leader of the VIP (Vikassheel Insaan Party). However, he recently parted ways with the party's founder, Mukesh Sahani, and has formed his own political party. It is believed that differences in ideology and a desire to give distinct political representation to the Nishad community led him to take this step. Political analysts believe that Tej Pratap's move could shift the dynamics of the opposition in Bihar after his fallout with the RJD. He is currently the MLA of the Hasanpur seat in Samastipur district. Tej Pratap Yadav made his political debut in the 2015 assembly polls and is a second-term MLA with two brief stints in the state cabinet. Last month, the estranged son of the Yadav family launched a new Facebook page titled 'Team Tej Pratap', notably omitting his father's party name and election symbol. The page features the slogan, 'Jiska Kaayam Hai Pratap, Wahi Hai Aapka Apna Tej Pratap," and Tej Pratap Yadav has announced that all his activities will be shared through this platform. (with inputs from PTI) Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
