The rebranding to SRTB marks a pivotal shift, reflecting the state’s efforts to consolidate public media under a more centralized and, ostensibly, youth-oriented structure. The move brought together ORTB’s longstanding national reach with CMAJB’s youth-focused platforms, Ado TV (rebranded in 2025) and Ado FM, in what the government described as an effort to “modernize and harmonize” public broadcasting.

Media assets

Television: Benin TV, Benin TV Junior

Radio: Radio Benin, Radio Parakou, Atlantic FM, Radio Benin Alafia, Ado FM

State Media Matrix Typology

State-Controlled (SC)

Ownership and governance

SRTB remains a state-owned institution, legally grounded in decree No. 252-2005, which governs its structure and responsibilities. Originally formalized under decree No. 75-43 of 1975 and amended by subsequent laws, the broadcaster underwent key legal revisions post-1990 as Benin transitioned to a multi-party democracy. The most impactful of these was decree No. 99-315 of 1999, which granted the broadcaster the status of a public establishment with “social, scientific, and cultural character.”

The institution operates under the aegis of the Ministry of Communication and Post, which retains de facto control over strategic decisions, including financial appropriations and managerial appointments. The broadcaster’s highest governing body is the Board of Directors, which, following reforms in July 2022, was reduced from seven to five members. All board members are nominated or vetted by state institutions, including the presidency and line ministries, reinforcing the broadcaster’s close alignment with government priorities.

Angela Aquereburu Rabatel, a Togolese filmmaker and media executive, was appointed as Director-General of SRTB and Director of Bénin TV on 12 February 2025. Her selection reflects a strategic shift toward professionalizing leadership and bringing an external perspective from the Francophone audiovisual sphere.

Source of funding and budget

SRTB is wholly financed through state budget allocations. According to decree 252-2005, the Ministry of Communication and Post proposes the broadcaster’s annual budget, which is then ratified by the government. This financial model cements the broadcaster’s dependence on public funds and, by extension, its susceptibility to political influence.

No public financial reports have been made available since the 2023 institutional reform, and details regarding the 2024–2025 operating budget have not yet been disclosed as of June 2025.

A late budget approval has been a recurring gripe among SRTB staff. Workers report that although the salary allocation for 2024 was only green-lit in June 2024, the downstream effects are still being felt into 2025 – programs, equipment, and operations remain chronically underfunded. The staff union, SYNTRAP, sounded the alarm in late 2024, warning that if working conditions didn’t improve, SRTB might resort to “dead-air days”—a scenario that has yet to be avoided.

Editorial independence

While there is no formal statute granting editorial autonomy to SRTB, its legal framework does not explicitly empower the government to interfere with content. However, in practice, editorial decisions are heavily influenced by the executive branch. Media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has repeatedly flagged SRTB (and previously ORTB) for functioning as a mouthpiece of the government, particularly under the administration of President Patrice Talon.

The absence of an independent oversight mechanism or regulatory authority to assess and enforce editorial independence remains a pressing concern. Journalists within the organization reportedly face internal censorship and pressure to align coverage with official narratives, particularly during election cycles or political crises.

June 2025

Published by the Office national d’imprimerie et de presse (ONIP), La Nation maintains a prominent role as the government’s official voice in print. It remains one of the few daily print newspapers with nationwide circulation, although its influence has waned in the face of digital disruption and growing public distrust in state media.

Media assets

Publishing: La Nation

State Media Matrix Typology

State-Controlled (SC)

Ownership and governance

La Nation is published by ONIP, a state-run enterprise operating under the supervision of the Ministry of Communication and Post. The highest decision-making body within ONIP is its Board of Directors, comprised of six members—four of whom are appointed by state ministries, thereby ensuring continued governmental oversight and influence.

Despite minor organizational tweaks in recent years, ONIP remains fully state-owned, with no private sector participation in its governance. In 2025, no legal reform or board reshuffle has altered the fundamental balance of power within the institution.

Source of funding and budget

ONIP does not publicly disclose its financial statements, making it difficult to determine the precise composition of its revenue streams. However, according to local media analysts and journalists, the organization survives through a mix of direct state subsidies, allocated annually by the Ministry of Communication and Post, and commercial revenue, largely from newspaper sales and advertising, though both have reportedly been in decline.

Because the state retains full managerial control and access to La Nation’s revenue, financial independence is seen more as a formality than a reality. There is no transparency regarding the proportion of public versus private income, nor are there publicly available audits or budgetary breakdowns.

As of June 2025, there has been no official update regarding ONIP’s 2024 or 2025 budget, nor any policy initiative aimed at financial or operational transparency.

Editorial independence

Though no formal statute mandates pro-government coverage, La Nation’s editorial line is widely regarded as aligned with the ruling administration’s agenda. This alignment stems less from overt censorship and more from structural dependency: the outlet’s leadership, funding, and editorial priorities are all tethered to the state apparatus.

Independent journalists and watchdog organizations have long observed that La Nation serves more as a government bulletin than an independent newspaper, consistently favoring official narratives and underreporting stories critical of those in power. No editorial board or independent ombuds mechanism has been established to safeguard journalistic integrity or balance.

In 2025, despite regional debates on press freedom and increasing international scrutiny, no meaningful reforms have been introduced to bolster La Nation’s editorial independence or to introduce oversight mechanisms. The paper remains under firm government control both in perception and practice.

June 2025

Media assets

CLOSED

Ownership and governance

ABP was subordinated to the Ministry of Communication and Post, according to information from the ministry. The director general of the agency was appointed by the President of the state, according to official information from state decrees. The highest governing body at ABP was its Board of Directors whose members, in majority (four out of six), represented state authorities (ministries), according to official information from state decrees.

Source of funding and budget

ABP was fully funded through a state subsidy, which was approved every year by the government, according to official information from state decrees.

Editorial independence

There were no editorial provisions obliging ABP to cover government authorities in a certain way, yet, indirectly, through funding and control of the agency’s management, the government fully controlled the editorial coverage of the outlet, which was clearly pro-government, according to an ad hoc content analysis.

No statue and no oversight or assessment mechanism that would validate ABP’s editorial independence have been identified.

February 2022