Burkina Faso: where is missing journalist Alain Traoré

Where is Alain Traoré? Over three months have passed since the editor of the "'national languages" desk at Oméga Media, a private press group, was abducted - yet his relatives and colleagues still have no news of him. He was not mentioned in the address given by the delegation from the Burkinabè government on 24 October in Banjul, at the 81st ordinary session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights. Yet the address openly acknowledged the government's conscription off three other journalists who disappeared around the same timeas Alain Traoré: Atiana Serge Oulon, Adama Bayalaand Kalifara Séré.This silence is seen as a worrying sign, according to several of RSF's sources. Some of Alain Traoré's colleagues believe he was also forcibly conscripted, like the three other journalists and dozens of political dissidents.

Alain Traoré was abducted from his home on 13 July 2024 by armed individuals claiming to be from the National Intelligence Agency (ANR), according to his relatives. Similar tactics were used in the abduction of Serge Oulon, who was also arrested at his home by individuals claiming to be from the ANR.

Before his enforced disappearance, Alain Traoré - known as Alain Alain - was regularly threatened for the comments he made on the radio show "Le Défouloir". The concept behind the show dates back some ten years: at the time, Alain Traoré was a presenter for the private radio station Horizon FMin Ouagadougou, and wanted to launch a satirical radio show that would raise public awareness by mocking the country's governance and current affairs. His show, "Ça va ça ne va pas", was born on Horizon FM, and was a great success.

Alain Traoré took the concept with him when he arrived at Radio Omega in 2015. "Ça va ça va pas" became "Le Défouloir", but the tone remained the same. One journalist, who wishes to remain anonymous, described it as "a citizen's spotlight tinged with humour". Alain Traoré has also acted as editor of the "national languages" desk at the private press group Oméga Media.

A self-taught, passionate journalist

Alain Traoré had entered the world of journalism 19 years earlier, through reggae music. An unconditional fan of the musical genre - as evidenced by the dreadlocks he proudly wore for 13 years - he went on air for the first time on an open mic radio programme. Several listeners remarked on his distinctive voice. A carpenter at the time, Alain Traoré decided to learn the ropes of journalism on his own. In 1996, he became the host of a reggae programme on the private radio station Horizon FM.

Alain Traoré perfected his style there, working on several Horizon FM's stations, from Dédougou to Kaya. In the early 2000s, he trained himself to be a news presenter, and started working on the newly-created Radio Lotamu. Later, after a four-year stint at Radio Salankoloto, Alain Traoré moved to Ouagadougou and returned to the studio of his first employer, Horizon FM.