Burundi media guide

A man listen the news on his phone in downtown Bujumbura

State-run outlets dominate the media. Journalists operate under strict press laws and face harassment over their coverage.

US-based NGO Freedom House says: "Freedom of expression is constitutionally guaranteed but severely restricted in practice by draconian press laws and a dangerous operating environment for media workers."

Many journalists have fled the country since 2015. Radio is the main source of information for many Burundians. Many privately-owned stations were shut after the 2015 coup attempt.

The government banned FM transmissions of BBC World Service radio in 2019, accusing it of airing a documentary it said had damaged the country's reputation - it lifted the ban in 2022.

There were 1.6 million internet users by December 2021, comprising 12% of the population (Internetworldstats.com).

Social media serve as news sources in place of shuttered radio stations. They are also used for attempts at spreading disinformation, says RSF.

• Media guides by BBC Monitoring

Press

• Le Renouveau - government newspaper

• Iwacu - private weekly, online content in English/French

• Ndongozi (Pacesetter) - founded by Catholic Church

• Arc-en-ciel (Rainbow) - private, French-language weekly

• Ubumwe (Unity) - government-owned weekly

Television

• Television Nationale du Burundi - government-run, in Kirundi, Swahili, French and English

• TeleRenaissance - private

Radio

• Radio Burundi - government-run, in Kirundi, Swahili, French and English

• Radio Publique Africaine - private

• Radio CCIB+ - operated by Burundi Chamber of Commerce

• Radio Culture - partly funded by health ministry

• Radio Isanganiro - private

• Radio Inzamba - online, operated by exiled Burundian journalists

News agencies

• Agence Burundaise de Presse (ABP) - state-run

• Net Press - private