Burundi: RTNB Becomes CNDD-FDD Mouthpiece Amid Bias Concerns

• Burundi's public broadcaster, RTNB, is increasingly accused of acting as a mouthpiece for the ruling CNDD-FDD party, compromising its public service mandate.
• Evidence includes unpaid live broadcasts of CNDD-FDD events and controversial per diem practices that create financial dependency for journalists.
• Restrictions on international assignments for RTNB journalists, limiting travel to senior directors, further illustrate tightening political control over news dissemination.
• These issues highlight a severe erosion of media independence in Burundi, a critical concern that has worsened since the 2015 political crisis.
• Journalists report that the public radio, once somewhat independent, now aligns closely with the government, mirroring the long-standing control over national television.

The current state of journalistic independence in Burundi is considered critical, a situation that has not been this severe since the 2015 crisis.

Burundi's National Radio and Television (RTNB), a public institution funded by taxpayer money and intended to serve all citizens, faces increasing accusations of operating as a mouthpiece for the government and the ruling CNDD-FDD party. Journalists and editorial staff interviewed by SOS Médias Burundi report a concerning trend where the public broadcaster is gradually transforming into a partisan instrument, raising significant Burundi media independence concerns.

This shift is evidenced by practices such as live broadcasts of major CNDD-FDD rallies and extensive coverage of specific political activities, alongside new restrictions placed on reporters during international assignments. While the national television component of RTNB has historically been subject to government and CNDD-FDD control since the former Hutu rebel group became the ruling party in 2005, the public radio had long maintained a degree of independence in its news coverage. However, that era of relative autonomy now appears to be fading, contributing to a severe erosion of Burundi press freedom.

A particularly telling example of this evolving dynamic occurred on Saturday, August 29, 2026, with the live broadcast of the tenth edition of Imbonerakure Day, an event dedicated to the CNDD-FDD’s youth wing. Sources indicate that the ruling party incurred no fees for this extensive broadcast, a practice that extends to other rallies and activities regularly aired by RTNB, sometimes live. This preferential treatment underscores the RTNB political influence CNDD-FDD exerts, leading an editorial manager to lament that the CNDD-FDD, which should be treated equally to other political parties, has effectively become a "party-state."

Further internal practices are fueling unease among RTNB reporters, particularly concerning per diem allowances. Typically, journalists assigned outside Bujumbura, where RTNB management is based, receive 100,000 Burundian francs. However, for certain CNDD-FDD activities, the party directly covers travel expenses, resulting in the RTNB cutting the journalist's per diem in half. Reporters denounce these practices, which they argue create a situation of financial dependency on the ruling party, thereby exacerbating Burundi public broadcaster bias and compromising journalistic integrity.

Beyond domestic assignments, restrictions have also been imposed on RTNB journalists covering international events. Since President Évariste Ndayishimiye assumed office in June 2020, the composition of teams accompanying high-ranking Burundian officials on official trips has notably shifted. Sources close to the matter reveal that trips to the United States, Canada, and several European countries are now primarily reserved for the radio and television directors, often accompanied by the technical director who also serves as a cameraman.

This policy, which RTNB officials reportedly explain, has since been extended to include travel to China, as well as countries in Central and Latin America. Such limitations on who can report from abroad further highlight the CNDD-FDD control state media Burundi, effectively narrowing the scope of independent reporting and contributing to the overall decline in Burundi press freedom.

The current state of journalistic independence in Burundi is considered critical, a situation that has not been this severe since the 2015 crisis. That political upheaval, triggered by the late President Pierre Nkurunziza’s controversial third term, led to the exile of approximately one hundred journalists and the destruction of several independent radio stations, some through rocket attacks on their facilities. The ongoing transformation of the Burundi RTNB CNDD-FDD mouthpiece role is a continuation of this troubling trajectory.

These developments underscore profound Burundi media independence concerns, indicating a systemic challenge to objective public information dissemination. The increasing alignment of the public broadcaster with the ruling party, through both direct influence and subtle financial pressures, reflects a broader environment where freedom of expression and access to unbiased news are severely compromised.

This article highlights the severe erosion of media independence in Burundi, with the public broadcaster RTNB acting as a mouthpiece for the ruling CNDD-FDD. Lawyers and compliance officers should note this as a significant indicator of increased political risk, potential suppression of freedom of expression, and challenges in obtaining unbiased public information, which could impact legal strategies, client advice on public communications, or assessments of the operating environment for businesses in Burundi.

Source: Original reporting via SOS Médias Burundi