The Facts
Burkina Faso's government on Monday suspended state-funded France 24 broadcasts in the country after the TV channel aired an interview with Yezid Mebarek, the head of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), earlier this month.
This comes as relations between Paris and Ouagadougou have collapsed since the military took over Burkina Faso last October, with the junta rescinding a military deal and giving France one month to withdraw its troops in January this year.
The Spin
Narrative A
As if France's failure to help its former colonies fight jihadist insurgency wasn't enough, now its state-owned France 24 media outlet is unacceptably acting as the mouthpiece for dangerous terrorists, threatening Burkina Faso and its people by giving a platform to jihadist groups. Burkina Faso’s government had no choice but to suspend France 24 in order to maintain stability in the country.
Narrative B
Burkina Faso’s government is making outrageous and defamatory remarks regarding France 24 and mischaracterizing the network’s broadcast of its interview with Abu Obeida Youssef al-Annabi. The country has a history of suppressing journalists and curbing press freedom, and it should not suspend channels without notice.
