Burkina Faso has suspended the BBC and Voice of America for two weeks following their coverage of a report by Human Rights Watch. The report detailed the brutal massacre of 223 civilians, including 56 children, by the country’s armed forces in villages accused of collaborating with militants.

This suspension comes amidst ongoing violence in Burkina Faso involving jihadist groups and state-backed forces, which has displaced over 2 million people, predominantly children. The country’s repressive leadership has a history of silencing dissent and failing to address attacks on civilians, leaving many incidents unreported and unpunished.

Human Rights Watch has called on the United Nations and the African Union to launch investigations and support local efforts to bring those responsible for the massacres to justice. The international community has expressed deep concern over the situation, with U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric labeling the reports as “extremely disturbing.”

The suspension of these prominent news outlets highlights the challenges faced by journalists reporting on human rights abuses and conflicts. It also underscores the importance of transparency and accountability in addressing such atrocities.