Conclusion

The Burundian media landscape is dominated by radio, even if in 2015 the most popular ones were destroyed. As of 2019, there are radio stations whose editors cannot determine the agenda of the day, as they are directly or indirectly managed by the government.

The public broadcaster Radio Télévision Nationale du Burundi (RTNB) remains a tool to publicise the action of the government and works to advertise past, current and future activities of high-ranking authorities. Private radio stations, which should increase the level of pluralism, are afraid to air other voices in fear of reprisals from public institutions. The regulatory body keeps sending warnings to the radios that try to balance the public debate. Print media are also at the service of the government, which directly issues Le Renouveau. The Groupe de Presse Iwacu tries to counterbalance with alternative content, but it regularly receives remonstrance from the CNC council. Television is the media for the Burundian elite and viewers who can afford subscriptions can pick up interesting channels, as the regular programmes of the Télévision nationale are not of great appeal. Ordinary citizens mainly gather to watch TV in public places. Digital media, social networks and news sites offer alternative sources of information, but Internet penetration remains low and the reliability of online news depends on the ability of users to spot rumors and fake news.