Accountability systems

Burundian media are not accountable to their audiences as are European media, mainly because they lack an internal mediator system to receive complaints from injured parties and there are no systematically established and verifiable standards of feedback mechanisms. The right of reply or correction is possible in theory, but hard to empower especially in public media and privately owned media belonging to the ruling party. Even intellectuals who have been unjustly denounced find it very difficult to enforce their rights.

Local audiences are not accustomed to holding media accountable for violations, nor to seize courts on damage related to any disseminated information that is prejudicial to their rights. The "watchdogs of morality" seem to consider themselves infallible and do not accept any "barking" that can reframe their action.