Burundi’s Shrinking Press Space Forces Journalists Into Silence or Exile

April 25, 2025 – Burundi –

Press freedom in Burundi continues to deteriorate, pushing many journalists into self-censorship or forcing them to flee the country altogether. As the government tightens its control over independent reporting, media workers are increasingly silenced by fear of surveillance, harassment, or even imprisonment.

The current media climate in Burundi, as reported by Global Voices and other sources, is marked by a pervasive culture of intimidation. Journalists face pressure to avoid covering sensitive topics, particularly those related to human rights, corruption, or governance failures. Those who do report critically risk losing their jobs, being detained, or becoming targets of smear campaigns by state-aligned actors. As a result, many have either stopped reporting independently or chosen to leave the country entirely.

Since the political crisis of 2015, when then-President Pierre Nkurunziza sought a controversial third term, media freedom has steadily eroded. Several major independent outlets were shuttered or banned, and laws regulating the press became increasingly restrictive. Although President Évariste Ndayishimiye initially promised reforms upon taking office in 2020, little has changed on the ground for journalists. Surveillance of reporters remains widespread, and legal protections for media workers are weak or ignored.

Journalists who go into exile often face major hurdles in continuing their work. Many are unable to secure stable employment in foreign media or lack the resources to set up independent platforms. Yet some have formed diaspora-based media groups that aim to keep reporting on Burundi from outside its borders, though they too face cyberattacks and threats from afar.

Local and international press freedom organizations are calling on the Burundian government to repeal repressive laws, restore the licenses of banned outlets, and guarantee journalists’ safety. Without these changes, Burundi risks deepening its information blackout and further isolating itself from global democratic norms.

In a country where official narratives dominate and dissent is punished, the ability of the press to speak truth to power remains under siege. For many Burundian journalists, the choice is stark: stay silent, speak carefully, or leave the country altogether.

Reference – 

https://allafrica.com/stories/202504280455.html

https://anylang.net/tr/news/en/burundi-lack-press-freedom-results-self-censorship-and-exile-many-journalists

Burundi: A lack of press freedom results in self-censorship and exile for many journalists