Is the Burkinabé Radio Television (RTB) boycotting activities from ex-President Blaise Compaoré’s political party? No, say the bosses of the public media, namely the CEO, Marie Danielle Bougaïré (photo), the director of the national radio, Evariste Combary and the director of the national television, Ouezzin Louis Oulon. To confirm it, they held a press conference to address the complaints of the ex-leading party, the Congress for Democracy and Progress (CDP).

The boycott accusations are “untrue”, declared the national television director, Ouezzin Louis Oulon. He recalled that his office, as well as the radio, gives equal coverage to all political parties in Burkina Faso. He further clarified that RTB is under no-one’s thumb.

The CDP’s president, Eddie Komboïgo, also gave a press conference, during which he accused RTB of boycotting the activities of his party. Ouezzin Louis Oulon then replied that the ex-party in power will not have more than 15 cover stories per month, the quota allotted to each party. “It is on this professional basis that we will work from now on”, said the national television director.

Blaise Compaoré’s party complained that there was no communication covering its activities. Ouezzin Louis Oulon explained that the means available to RTB do not allow it to cover the activities of CDP when the party gives a moment’s notice either via telephone calls or messages.

“If the president of CDP is pining for the privileges he enjoyed for 27 years, he must understand that it is no more possible and he has to abide by the rules of the Republic”, concluded the CEO of RTB. It can be recalled that the public broadcasting organisation had always been at the service of the leading party during Compaoré’s rule. During the public uprising of October 2014, RTB’s offices were vandalised as the institution was accused of supporting the then president.