Burkina Faso's press: dailies and online media

Burkina Faso gets its news from the public daily Sidwaya, long-standing private papers such as L'Observateur Paalga and Le Pays, portals like leFaso.net, Burkina24 and Wakat Sera, and the RTB, mostly in French, with Moore and Dioula on radio.

From L'Observateur to the Norbert Zongo case

L'Observateur, founded in 1973 and later called L'Observateur Paalga, is the oldest private daily. Sidwaya was born in 1984 during the revolution. The murder of journalist Norbert Zongo, editor of L'Independant, on 13 December 1998 remains a landmark in press history.

Sidwaya, L'Observateur Paalga and Le Pays

Sidwaya, published by the state, relays the work of the authorities and life in the regions. L'Observateur Paalga and Le Pays, two private dailies in Ouagadougou, have a tradition of editorials on national and African affairs, often in a more detached tone.

French, Moore, Dioula and Fulfulde

The print press and websites appear in French. Moore, Dioula and Fulfulde dominate radio, especially in the spoken news bulletins of the RTB and community stations. The 2023 constitutional revision strengthened the status of the national languages.

Bobo-Dioulasso and regional news

Bobo-Dioulasso, the second city, has local radio stations and correspondents for the national papers. Elsewhere, in Koudougou, Ouahigouya or Fada N'Gourma, news travels mainly by radio and through the regional offices of Sidwaya and the AIB agency.

leFaso.net, Burkina24 and the online press

leFaso.net, launched in the early 2000s, has become the reference portal and also republishes articles from partner papers. Burkina24, Faso7, Wakat Sera and Burkina Info publish continuously, with videos and a strong presence on Facebook.

AIB: the Burkina News Agency

The Agence d'information du Burkina (AIB) distributes official wires, cabinet meeting reports and provincial news through its regional bureaus. It is a fast source for government decisions and statements issued by the country's institutions.

What does the RTB broadcast?

Radiodiffusion Television du Burkina (RTB) brings together national television, Radio Burkina and regional stations. The landscape also includes many private and religious radio stations, several private channels and live streams that can be accessed from abroad.

The diaspora and the press next door

A large Burkinabe community lives in Ivory Coast, hence the value of the Ivorian press. For the Sahel security context, the Malian press and the Nigerien press cover the same issues and relations within the Alliance of Sahel States.

Cotton, gold, the Stallions and FESPACO

The economy is dominated by gold and cotton, covered by the business pages of Sidwaya and specialist sites. Football and the Stallions lead the sports news, while FESPACO, the Ouagadougou film festival, takes over the culture pages every two years.

The context since the 2022 transition

The Higher Council for Communication (CSC) regulates the media. Since 2022, the transitional authorities have suspended the broadcasting of RFI and France 24, as well as some other foreign outlets, and several journalists have reported pressure or conscription.

Free sites and digital newsstands

Most Burkinabe sites remain free. Some dailies offer a PDF edition or a paid digital newsstand, but their main articles also circulate on leFaso.net. To go further, the African press page lists other French-language titles from the region.

Cross-checking sources at sensitive times

Security news spreads quickly on WhatsApp, sometimes without verification. Compare the AIB version, that of a private daily and that of a site such as Wakat Sera, and be wary of old videos presented as recent footage.

Following Burkina Faso from afar

1. Open leFaso.net every morning, as it aggregates national news and a selection of articles from Ouagadougou dailies.
2. Add Sidwaya and the AIB to keep track of official decisions and cabinet meeting reports.
3. Follow Burkina24 or Faso7 on social media for videos and real-time alerts.
4. Listen to Radio Burkina live to hear bulletins in Moore, Dioula and Fulfulde.
5. Read the editorials of L'Observateur Paalga and Le Pays to understand the debates and nuances of the private press.
6. Always check the date and source of any security report before sharing it.

Access and subscriptions for the Burkinabe press

Practical facts on Burkinabe media

• Languages: French in print; Moore, Dioula and Fulfulde on radio
• News agency: Agence d'information du Burkina (AIB)
• Public broadcaster: Radiodiffusion Television du Burkina (RTB)
• Regulator: Higher Council for Communication (CSC)
• Public daily: Sidwaya; oldest private daily: L'Observateur Paalga
• Time zone: UTC+0, no daylight saving time
• Currency: CFA franc (XOF)

Mistakes to avoid with news from Burkina

• Sharing an old attack video, or one filmed in another Sahel country, as if it showed a recent event in Burkina.
• Confusing a fake account imitating leFaso.net or Burkina24 with the real outlet, particularly on Facebook and TikTok.
• Assuming public and private media share the same line: compare Sidwaya with a private title on political topics.
• Forgetting that some foreign outlets are suspended in Burkina and that their coverage may come from outside the country.
• Taking an opinion piece or op-ed republished on a portal for a news article checked by the newsroom.

Frequent questions about Burkinabe newspapers