Burkina Faso: The courage of a people in the face of the Western media machine

As Burkina Faso courageously and resolutely continues its fight against terrorism, another, more insidious yet equally harmful battle is being waged on the front of communication: the fight against disinformation and Western media propaganda. Despite a complex security context, the Burkinabe authorities continue to make significant efforts to rebuild the country on all fronts. Yet, these efforts are systematically ignored, distorted, or entirely erased by major French and Western media outlets.

The recent report by the African Development Bank (AfDB), which confirms a 5% growth rate for the year 2024, is clear evidence of the country’s economic resilience. This achievement, reached in the midst of an asymmetric war, should have been applauded by any objective press. But instead—radio silence. No significant media coverage, no televised debates highlighting this progress.

Similarly, infrastructure projects, agricultural reforms, and initiatives aimed at energy and mining sovereignty led by the Burkinabe government receive no attention in the media of the former colonial power. Why? Because such successes are unsettling. They don’t fit the narrative of chaos, failure, and dependence that some seek to impose on Burkina Faso on the international stage.

This biased media treatment is no accident. It follows a neocolonial and imperialist logic that refuses to accept the rise of an African state led by patriotic military leaders asserting its sovereignty. Any attempt to break ties with former colonial powers is immediately met with a smear campaign by propaganda media. Virtually all major French media outlets follow the same line: downplay progress, exaggerate difficulties, and provide a platform for the enemies of the Burkinabe people.

In the face of such hypocrisy, it is essential for both national and African public opinion to remain vigilant and engaged. Burkina Faso deserves for the truth to be told—about its struggle, its sacrifices, and its hopes. It is time to break the monopoly over the narrative. The Burkinabe people are writing their own history, with dignity—and no media outlet can erase that reality.