Reporters Without Borders alleges secret detention of journalist in Burkina Faso
Rights group says Atiana Serge Oulon was held in makeshift prison until late 2025, contradicting government assertions of voluntary service
Reporters Without Borders has issued a serious allegation against the military authorities of Burkina Faso, claiming they secretly detained prominent investigative journalist Atiana Serge Oulon in a villa in Ouagadougou. The watchdog states that Oulon remained held captive at the site until the end of 2025, a timeline that directly contradicts the official government narrative.
According to the RSF investigation, the government's assertion that Oulon was conscripted into the military following his abduction in June 2024 serves merely as a smokescreen to conceal his imprisonment. The report indicates that the villa was converted into a makeshift prison, where dozens of detainees were held under heavy guard conditions until the facility ceased to hold Oulon at the close of 2025.
The conditions described within the facility were severe, with former detainees reporting that they slept directly on the floor and wore the same clothing for months. RSF details accounts of detainees drinking water from toilets and enduring beatings by guards who used tree branches as whips. The report further alleges that prisoners faced constant threats of execution and were subjected to unnecessary violence.
This specific case of secret detention is linked to Oulon's earlier actions as a journalist. The watchdog notes that the military authorities had Oulon in their sights since 2022, when he publicly accused a senior army officer of embezzlement. This accusation appears to have precipitated the events leading to his disappearance and subsequent alleged incarceration.
The Minister of Communication has not responded to contact requests from the advocacy group regarding these findings. Similarly, the government has issued no immediate reaction to the RSF report, leaving the allegations unaddressed by the authorities in Ouagadougou.
The incident occurs against a backdrop of a tightening civic space under the regime of Captain Ibrahim Traore. While the military leader recently stated that everyone is free to express opinions, rights groups continue to accuse the government of cracking down on dissent. This includes the banning of over 100 associations in April and the dissolution of all political parties, alongside accusations that NGOs with international funding are engaged in spying and treason.
