Media assets

Television: RTNB

Radio: Chaine 1, Chaine 2

State Media Matrix Typology

State-Controlled (SC)

Ownership and governance

Established by Decree No. 100 of 1986 as a “public entity of administrative nature,” RTNB is officially under the purview of the Ministry of Communication, Information Technologies, and Media. In practice, it operates under direct government control. The broadcaster is overseen by a board of directors comprising seven members appointed by the President upon the recommendation of the communication minister. The Director General is also a government appointee.

Since 2019, Éric Nshimirimana, former leader of the Imbonerakure—the youth wing of the ruling CNDD-FDD party—has served as Director General. His appointment has been widely criticized by human rights organizations due to the Imbonerakure’s alleged involvement in political violence .

Source of funding and budget

RTNB’s funding model, as outlined in its founding decree, includes state subsidies, advertising revenue, consulting services, event coverage fees, user levies, and donations. In the 2023–2024 fiscal year, RTNB received a state subsidy of BIF 7.15 billion (approximately US$ 2.5 million), marking a significant increase from previous years.

However, Burundi’s broader fiscal challenges have impacted public funding. The 2024–2025 budget faced a deficit due to unforeseen expenditures and revenue shortfalls, leading to a revised finance bill adopted in December 2024. The 2025–2026 budget anticipates an 18% increase in government spending, with a projected deficit of BIF 436 billion to be financed through domestic and external borrowing.

Editorial independence

RTNB is widely regarded as a government mouthpiece, primarily broadcasting content that favors the ruling party. The broadcaster has been criticized for lacking editorial independence, especially during election periods. Ahead of the 2025 elections, the National Communication Council (CNC) imposed strict media regulations, including prohibitions on reporting provisional election results, further constraining media freedom.

RTNB has a nationwide monopoly on information and has been constantly criticized for its unfair and biased coverage of elections. RTNB has expanded its digital footprint through its Infonet service, which publishes selected radio and television content online. This initiative aims to engage the Burundian diaspora and counteract narratives from exiled media outlets. The broadcaster’s website reportedly attracts over 100,000 visitors, indicating a growing online audience.

The broadcaster has been headed since 2019 by a former leader of Imbonerakure, the ruling party’s youth wing accused of instigating the violence during the elections that brought the government to power. Sometimes, state security agencies directly interfere with the work of RTNB’s journalists.

Sometimes, the media regulator in Burundi, the National Communication Council (CNC), comments critically in its written reports on the RTNB’s activity, but that criticism doesn’t lead to any changes at the RTNB. The Council wrote in 2018 that “the non-respect of the principle of balance and pluralism of information is noticed on the RTNB. Almost all the information disseminated on RTNB is related to the activities of the government and its various departments or territorial entities.”

There is no effective mechanism to enforce editorial independence at RTNB. The Observatoire de la Presse du Burundi (OPB), an NGO, provides general media oversight but lacks the authority to implement changes within RTNB.

June 2025

Media assets

News agency: ABP

State Media Matrix Typology

State-Controlled (SC)

Ownership and governance

The Agence Burundaise de Presse (ABP) was established by Presidential Decree No. 100/092 of 1990 and operates as a public institution under the supervision of the Ministry of Communication, Information Technologies, and Media.

Governance is centralized: the agency is overseen by a board of directors appointed by the President of the Republic, acting on the recommendation of the communication minister. Day-to-day operations are managed by a Director General, who is supported by three deputies responsible for various administrative and editorial functions.

As of 2025, no changes have been introduced to decentralize governance or enhance institutional autonomy. The current leadership continues to be selected through a top-down political process with limited transparency or stakeholder participation.

Source of funding and budget

Although ABP’s founding decree allows for a hybrid funding model—including both public subsidies and self-generated revenue through content sales and consultancy—the agency remains overwhelmingly dependent on state financing.

• In 2019, ABP received BIF 756 million (US$ 430,000), representing nearly 80% of its operational budget.
• In 2021, state support increased to BIF 900 million (US$450,000), reflecting modest budgetary growth.
• According to the 2023–2024 national budget, ABP was allocated BIF 805 million (US$281,000), a notable decrease in both nominal and real terms, likely due to broader fiscal constraints and currency devaluation.

There are no publicly available reports on the agency’s own-source revenue, nor is there evidence of significant income from commercial services in recent years. Financial transparency remains limited.

Editorial independence

ABP functions as a government-aligned news outlet, with its editorial content closely reflecting official narratives. The agency routinely reports on the activities of government authorities, with provincial correspondents acting more as conduits for state messaging than as independent journalists. Critics argue that ABP operates as a de facto public relations arm of the state rather than an impartial news source.

Despite having a set of internal regulations—including Staff Regulations, Internal Rules, and a Procedural Manual—there is no statutory safeguard ensuring editorial independence. Burundi lacks a legal framework that would guarantee the agency’s autonomy from political interference.

While the Observatoire de la Presse du Burundi (OPB) serves as a general watchdog for media performance in the country, it does not exert any meaningful oversight over ABP’s editorial direction. No independent body currently monitors the agency’s content, governance, or adherence to journalistic standards.

June 2025

Media assets

Publishing: Le Renouveau du Burundi, Ubumwe

State Media Matrix Typology

State-Controlled (SC)

Ownership and governance

Established under Presidential Decree No. 100/0112 of 2019, PPB functions as a department under the Ministry of Communication, Information Technologies, and Media. Its governance is tightly controlled by the executive branch: all top leadership—including the general director and the chief editors of its publications—are appointed by the President upon recommendation from the communication minister.

As of June 2025, no new appointments have been publicly announced since the last round of executive nominations in March 2021. There is no transparent or competitive selection process for leadership roles.

Source of funding and budget

PPB is primarily state-funded, operating as a directorate within the Ministry of Communication. It generates additional revenue through paid announcements, classified ads, and institutional subscriptions, but these income streams remain insufficient to guarantee financial sustainability.

• In 2019, PPB received BIF 1 billion (US$ 563,000) from the state, covering over half of its annual budget.
• In 2021, the subsidy increased to BIF 1.1 billion (US$ 546,000).
• According to the 2023–2024 national budget, PPB received BIF 1.7 billion (US$ 603,000), the highest allocation to date, despite the local currency’s depreciation.

Despite this increase in funding, financial instability persists. PPB management has previously warned that without sufficient advertising revenue, flagship outlets like Le Renouveau risk collapse. In early 2025, Le Renouveau reduced its print frequency from five to three issues per week, citing rising production costs and distribution challenges.

As of 2025, no concrete reforms or diversification strategies have been implemented to improve PPB’s commercial viability.

Editorial independence

PPB operates as a government-controlled outlet, and its editorial line is closely aligned with official state narratives. Local media analysts report that both Le Renouveau and Ubumwe function as institutional mouthpieces, largely publishing content that portrays government officials and programs in a positive light.

There is no legal provision guaranteeing PPB’s editorial autonomy. Its position as a government department subjects it to ministerial oversight and bureaucratic directives, leaving little room for independent reporting.

Although Burundi’s Observatoire de la Presse du Burundi (OPB) acts as a general media monitor, PPB is not subject to any internal or external editorial oversight mechanism. The agency lacks an ombudsman, public editor, or formal complaints system to ensure journalistic accountability or pluralism.

May 2025