Burkina Faso Junta Conscripts 44 Journalists Into Mandatory Six-Day 'Patriotic Immersion' Military Training

Burkina Faso's Ministry of Security conscripted 44 journalists from public and private media outlets into a mandatory six-day military-style "patriotic immersion" training course that began August 9, 2026 at the Police Academy in Pabre, about 20 kilometers from Ouagadougou, with completion and press coverage reported August 15. The program, overseen by junta leader Captain Ibrahim Traore's government, included weapons handling, uniformed drills, physical exercises, first aid, and tactical emergency-response training. Communication Minister Pingdwende Gilbert Ouedraogo addressed journalists dressed in fatigues and holding rifles in a video shared by state broadcaster RTB. Authorities described it as the start of an annual requirement for all media workers. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) said the initiative was 'undoubtedly intended to control media reporting,' warning that 'journalists are not soldiers and must not be turned into mouthpieces for the war effort.'