Journalist’s Murder Highlights Obstacles to Press Freedom in Burkina Faso

Journalist’s Murder Highlights Obstacles to Press Freedom in Burkina Faso

OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso -- The murderers of Norbert Zongo, editor of the weekly L'Indépendant, demonstrated particular cruelty in December 1998 when they shot up his body, and those of three companions, and then burned it.

But they failed to eliminate memories of his journalism and the effect it had on people here.

"We consider Mr. Norbert Zongo as our defender because he used to depict the government's wrongs," said Mandé Ousséni, an English teacher who was a student in 1998.

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