One of Burkina Faso’s most popular radio stations has been suspended by the junta-led government after it aired an interview that was deemed “insulting” to the country’s new military leaders in Niger.
The interview caused an instant suspension of Radio Omega on Thursday “until further notice,” according to a statement from Communications Minister, Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouedraogo.
The action, according to him, was “in the higher interests of the nation.”
After the statement was released late on Thursday, the station, which is a part of the Omega media group and is owned by journalist and former foreign minister, Alpha Barry, stopped transmitting.
The channel aired an interview with Ousmane Abdoul Moumouni, the spokesperson for a recently formed Nigerien organization pushing for the reinstatement of President Mohamed Bazoum.
According to the Burkina Faso spokesman, the pro-democratic Nigerien group led by Moumouni is “clearly campaigning for violence and war against the sovereign people of Niger” and seeks to restore Bazoum “by every means”.
It should be remembered that the Burkina Faso military junta pledged support for the new Niger military regime and stated that any military intervention against Niger’s new regime is a declaration of war against them.
