Authoritarian legalism and media capture in Burkina Faso: Militarized communication and the rise of “patriotic journalism”

This article investigates how the Burkinabè military regime (MPSR II) strategically employs democratic legal instruments to suppress press freedom and reshape the public communication space during the country’s ongoing security situation. Drawing on qualitative document analyses of Burkinabe laws, decrees, government statements, and regulatory decisions from 2019 to 2025, the study demonstrates how authoritarian governance is increasingly legitimized through laws aligned with the concepts of authoritarian liberalism, autocratic legalism, and media capture. The research shows that, under the guise of legality and patriotism, the regime uses certain journalists to spread state-approved messages, while simultaneously silencing critics and criminalizing independent journalism. It reveals the emergence of “patriotic journalism” and communication pacts aligning media discourse with military objectives. The Burkinabè case clearly illustrates the potential regional trend of militarized media governance, also observed elsewhere in the region, thus raising questions about the future of democratic expression in conflict-affected authoritarian states.