Media assets

Television: RTB Television

Radio: RTB Radio

State Media Matrix Typology

State-Controlled (SC)

Ownership and governance

RTB is a fully state-owned enterprise, operating under the auspices of the Ministry of Communication and Relations with Parliament. The broadcaster was restructured as a société d’État (state-owned company) through Law No. 2015-059, adopted in November 2015 by the Council of Ministers. As such, its Director General is appointed by presidential decree, and all key management roles are filled at the government’s discretion. The broadcaster’s staff are employed under public service status.

In July 2023, Galip Somé was appointed Director General. As of mid-2025, no further leadership changes have been publicly reported, although local press associations have expressed concern over the opaque process surrounding board appointments.

The appointment of Jean-Emmanuel Ouédraogo, a former RTB journalist and then Communication Minister, as Prime Minister in December 2024 has further intertwined state authority with RTB’s leadership, reinforcing government influence over the broadcaster

Source of funding and budget

RTB’s funding is derived from a mixed model comprising direct government subsidies, commercial advertising, and limited self-generated revenue. Despite its public service remit, RTB does not publish detailed or audited financial reports. Available information from media insiders and regulatory stakeholders suggests that state subsidies remain the dominant source of funding, reinforcing the outlet’s dependence on public finances.

In 2025, amidst mounting fiscal pressure from the transitional government, several civil society organizations raised concerns about the lack of transparency in RTB’s budget allocations, particularly in the wake of increased public spending on state propaganda and security messaging. No formal commitments to improve financial disclosure have yet been announced.

Editorial independence

Although RTB’s legal framework does not explicitly mandate editorial alignment with government policy, the broadcaster’s coverage overwhelmingly reflects the views and priorities of state authorities. Officials often assert that RTB operates with full editorial autonomy. However, empirical findings and testimony from local media professionals consistently suggest the opposite.

An independent content analysis conducted in 2024 revealed that more than 80% of RTB’s political coverage favored the government’s narrative, with opposition voices and critical commentary largely absent or marginal. Several documented cases in late 2023 and early 2024 exposed direct interventions by security agencies and the Ministry of Communication to block or alter critical reports, particularly those related to military operations and governance challenges during the country’s transitional period.

To date, no independent oversight body or internal editorial statute has been implemented to guarantee or monitor RTB’s editorial impartiality. Calls from journalists’ unions and international media freedom organizations for the establishment of an autonomous media regulatory authority remain unanswered.

June 2025

Founded in the aftermath of the 1983 revolution and named “Sidwaya”—meaning “truth” in the Mooré language—the outlet has long functioned as a pillar of the state’s communication apparatus.

Media assets

Publishing: Sidwaya, Carrefour Africain, Sidwaya Sport

News agency: Agence d’information du Burkina (AIB)

State Media Matrix Typology

State-Controlled (SC)

Ownership and governance

Sidwaya is fully owned by the Burkinabè state and operates under the direct supervision of the Ministry of Communication and Relations with Parliament. Top-level appointments, including the Director General and editors-in-chief, are made by ministerial decree, often following opaque procedures that lack public consultation or competitive selection.

In 2024, Mahama Sawadogo was reappointed as Director General, a move that drew criticism from media unions for bypassing internal calls for institutional reform and merit-based leadership.

Source of funding and budget

As of 2025, no audited financial data has been made publicly available regarding Sidwaya’s revenues or expenditures. Independent reporting and insider accounts confirm that the outlet remains heavily reliant on state subsidies, with minimal income from commercial advertising or sales.

Despite growing calls for budgetary transparency and accountability, the government has not instituted any public reporting mechanisms for Sidwaya’s finances. This financial opacity has raised red flags among media watchdogs, especially given increased state investment in official communication campaigns tied to the military-led transition.

Editorial independence

While there are no formal editorial statutes mandating pro-government coverage, Sidwaya’s content frequently mirrors the priorities of state authorities. Although the group has not been implicated in major censorship scandals since 2013, its coverage remains consistently aligned with official narratives, particularly during times of political instability and national crisis.

A content analysis conducted in early 2025 by the Centre National de Presse Norbert Zongo highlighted a notable absence of dissenting or critical reporting on the transitional government’s handling of security, governance, and civic unrest. The AIB, in particular, functions as a state bulletin service, largely reproducing official press releases with minimal journalistic scrutiny.

That said, Sidwaya Quotidien maintains some editorial space for lifestyle, health, and social reporting, which often garners wider public readership and fosters broader appeal beyond its institutional function.

There is currently no independent oversight body or internal mechanism in place to safeguard Sidwaya’s editorial independence. The absence of a media ombudsman, ethics committee, or external regulatory checks leaves editorial decisions vulnerable to political pressure and ministerial interference.

In 2025, a draft bill on public media governance proposed by the Burkinabè Press Council stalled in Parliament, meaning no progress has been made on instituting structural protections for Sidwaya’s autonomy.

June 2025