Burkina Faso tightens press freedom amid security crisis

Law defined 'death sentence' for media outlets criminalises demoralisation of armed forces

One of Africa's bastions of press freedom is attempting to enact harsh legislation that threatens journalists reporting on an unfolding security crisis, human rights organisations and press freedom advocates have warned.

Burkina Faso, currently ranked the fifth best African country for media freedom, is attempting to criminalise the "demoralisation" of its defence forces by any means, and the dissemination of information that could "undermine" public order or security operations.