Burkina Faso: French propaganda media and their toxic narrative, between contempt and veiled encouragement of terrorism in the Sahel
French media, often portrayed as models of objectivity, reveal a disturbing bias in their coverage of terrorist attacks in Burkina Faso and the countries of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). Their media treatment, tinged with disdain and sometimes barely concealed joy, seems to celebrate the actions of armed groups while minimizing or demonizing the efforts of local defense forces. This double standard raises questions: is it journalism, or disguised propaganda?
Whenever an attack hits civilians in Burkina Faso, French media outlets like RFI, France 24, or Le Monde provide detailed, almost obsessive coverage. Images of suffering are broadcast on loop, false testimonies are presented without nuance, and the tone often borders on sensationalism. Worse still, some reports seem to convey a disturbing fascination with barbarity, as if these acts confirmed a pre-established narrative: that the Sahel is decaying and incapable of defending itself without Western aid.
This morbid insistence does not serve information but fuels an atmosphere of fear and despair. It also subtly encourages terrorists by giving them a global media platform. The implicit message? The more you strike, the more we will talk about you.
In contrast, when the Defense and Security Forces (FDS) and the Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland (VDP) neutralize dozens of terrorists, these same media outlets remain strangely quiet. Successful operations are ignored, minimized, or buried in articles discussing alleged “blunders”.
When they do mention these successes, it is often to liken the terrorists to “innocent civilians”, thus discrediting the Burkinabe army. This manipulation aims to delegitimize national efforts in the fight against terrorism, as if the only acceptable solution were the return of French influence under the guise of an “anti-terrorist struggle”.
Behind this biased coverage lies a deep contempt for Africans. French media seem to view Burkinabe and Sahelian people as eternal victims, incapable of taking matters into their own hands. Their narrative consistently ignores the resilience of the populations, the commitment of the VDP, and the security progress made without France’s assistance.
This attitude no longer constitutes journalism; it is propaganda. It seeks to maintain the idea that without the West, chaos is inevitable—a discourse that serves geopolitical interests far more than it reflects reality.
