FasoMedia FM is launched, providing coverage of the upcoming elections across 60 radio stations!

Set up by Burkina Faso's privately owned radio stations that are members of the country's national union of free audiovisual media outlets (UNALFA), FasoMedia FM will provide comprehensive coverage of the upcoming presidential and general elections to as many listeners as possible. The 30 privately owned radio stations that initially came together to produce and broadcast programmes in synergy have since been joined by 30 more.
The studio was officially opened by Burkina Faso's Interim President, Michel Kafando, and the Leader of its Interim National Council, Sheriff Sy, whose messages of encouragement were relayed over the airwaves of the 60 radio stations involved in the joint venture.

Between 9 and 15 November, the programme "L'Heure du Citoyen" (Citizen's Hour) was broadcast by all of the radio stations at 4.00 pm, and is scheduled for the same time from 23 to 28 November. The programme provides listeners with the latest news on the campaigns being conducted by the various candidates and explains how the elections are organised, with a range of guests from representatives of the Independent National Electoral Committee (CENI) to experts from civil society, being invited on to share their views.
In addition, educational mini-programmes are helping to give citizens a better idea of the many factors involved in the electoral process.

"I would like to wish FasoMedia FM every success, and to wish you all the best of luck. Rest assured that we'll be amongst your most loyal listeners. We'll listen carefully to what you have to say, but that doesn't mean that we won't criticise what we hear!"

Michel Kafando - Interim President of Burkina Faso

The 14 presidential candidates have also been invited to take part in "Le Grand Oral" (The Big Debate). Running from 16 to 22 November, the programme gives each candidate the opportunity to present their manifesto, and also to answer questions on specific issues posed by a panel made up of audiovisual journalists, press reporters and online journalists, together with experts from civil society.
The many topics on the agenda include education, health, employment (particularly youth employment), foreign policy, the budget, and the fight against corruption.

On 29 November, the day on which the first round of voting will take place, programmes will be broadcast in synergy in 2-hour segments throughout the day. From 10.00 pm, the Burkinabe people will receive uninterrupted coverage of the election night, supplemented by guests' opinions and round-table discussions, until 8.00 am the following morning.

"It's an excellent initiative, and will contribute to political debate. We also hope that you get the most out of it and that your messages help to raise awareness, so that the entire democratic process goes by peacefully and everyone accepts the results of the ballot box."

Sheriff Sy - Leader of the Interim National Council

Stream all of the programmes (in French) by visiting the Fasomedia FMonline platform.
For all the latest news about the joint venture, click here.

FasoMedia FM has been launched as part of the FasoMedia project, which is being run by CFI and its partner UNALFA, with the support of the European Union Delegation to Burkina Faso and the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development. The FasoMedia FM joint venture is also backed by the NGO Diakonia, the Swedish Embassy, the Swiss Cooperation Office and Canal+ Burkina.