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How has the media landscape changed in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger over the past three years? WAJSIC’s new report, The Sahel: The State of the Media 2025–2026, provides one of the most comprehensive assessments ever produced on the state of press freedom and journalists’ safety across the three member states of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
Produced by the Whistleblowers, Activists and Journalists Safety International Center (WAJSIC) in close collaboration with journalists from Sahel Horizon, the report draws on extensive field research, interviews and documentary analysis to examine the legal, political, economic and security developments that are profoundly reshaping journalism in the Central Sahel.
A Media Landscape Under Unprecedented Pressure
The findings reveal a sustained deterioration of the operating environment for independent media and journalists.
Between 2023 and January 2026, the study documented:
· 38 sanctions imposed on media outlets, including suspensions, temporary closures, and indefinite broadcasting bans.
· 26 of these sanctions targeted foreign media, highlighting a growing effort to restrict not only domestic reporting but also access to international sources of information.
· 48 documented cases of arrests, sanctions, and attacks against journalists. The report stresses that this figure is not exhaustive, as numerous incidents could not be independently verified due to fear, surveillance, and widespread self-censorship.
· 31 journalists forced into exile because of threats to their safety, including 21 from Burkina Faso, 7 from Mali and 3 from Niger, making Burkina Faso the country’s largest source of journalists in exile within the AES.
Beyond these figures, the report also explores how legal restrictions, administrative measures, digital surveillance, economic pressure, and intimidation have combined to narrow civic space and weaken independent journalism throughout the region.
Beyond Documenting the Crisis
While providing a detailed account of the challenges confronting media professionals, the report also highlights the resilience of journalists who continue reporting despite increasing risks. It examines the survival strategies developed by independent media, the growing phenomenon of forced exile, the erosion of professional institutions and the transformation of the regional information ecosystem.
The publication concludes with practical recommendations aimed at governments, media organisations, regional institutions, international partners and civil societies to strengthen journalists’ protection, support independent media, and preserve access to reliable and pluralistic information.
Read The Full Report
The full report, The Sahel: The State of the Media 2025–2026, is now available.
Read and download the report here:
Through this publication, WAJSIC reaffirms its commitment to promoting press freedom, protecting journalists, and supporting independent journalism across Africa and the Sahel. By documenting current realities and amplifying the voices of journalists working under extraordinary pressure, the report seeks to inform policy discussions and strengthen collective efforts to safeguard the right to independent information.
Whether you’re an organization, media house, donor, or advocacy group, your partnership can help us shelter whistleblowers, train journalists, and defend press freedom. Fill out this form and our team will get in touch to explore meaningful collaboration.
NB: All information shared is kept confidential and used solely to explore partnership opportunities with WAJSIC