Burundi's Independent Media Aren't Going Down Without a Fight

The Press House in Bujumbura, from which independent radios were blocked access.

Journalists in Burundi, where an escalating crisis has imperiled freedom of expression,
have persevered, especially online, preventing the situation from passing silently.
Insecurity nevertheless demands creativity and discretion. Online channels have gained
 new importance, using streamed radio and social media to inform citizens.
These news outlets challenge narratives published by official or pro-ruling party 
CNDD-FDD media, which regularly disregard testimonies contrary to the
government-sanctioned story.


Independent broadcasters have been blocked and attacked in the year since
President Pierre Nkurunziza ran for and won a third term, sparking protests and
later armed insurgency. The government for its part – with its ‘Imbonerakure’ youth-wing,
 police, and intelligence services – is accused of wide-ranging human rights abuses,
including torture, arbitrary arrests and killings. Hundreds have died since
the instability began, and more than 200,000 have been made refugees,
according to the United Nations.

The main independent news-focused radios – Bonesha, Radio Publique Africaine (RPA),
 Isanganiro, and RadioTélévision Renaissance – have been left unable to broadcast
since their offices were attacked during a failed coup in May 2015,
 and subsequently legally blocked for investigation.
Pro-government Rema was similarly attacked, reducing Burundi’s once lively media
 landscape to government-controlled Radio-Télévision Nationale du Burundi (RTNB).

Radios turn to the Web

Independent radios remain unable to broadcast, but Bonesha, Isanganiro, and RPA have
continued updating their websites. Bonesha’s last YouTube post and last uploaded news
 broadcast are dated 12 May, just before the coup.
While independent broadcaster Radio Télévision Renaissance has kept updating its
 YouTube page, its website was suspended, then made accessible with its latest video
 on the rebels’ coup message, and then inaccessible again.

Other journalists have began broadcasting on Rwandan radio, targeting Burundians in
 neighbouring Rwanda and northern and western Burundi. Bonesha’s Kirundi-language 
emission on Rwandan radio station Isango Star in June 2015 reached six provinces.
RPA also broadcast its “Humura Burundi” show from South Kivu in the
Democratic Republic of Congo, reaching western Burundi and online audiences,
 although it was arbitrarily raided in October by Nkurunziza-sympathetic DRC authorities.

A group of exiles created the online French and Kirundi news broadcast “Inzamba”,
reportedly facing cyber-attacks and a fake website aimed at spreading disinformation.
A call-in service via an American phone number, listed online, has allowed Burundians
 in diaspora to listen to Bonesha.

Iwacu and SOS Médias Burundi

Iwacu, a leading online newspaper, is the last independent Burundian outlet “officially”
operating, notably on the Internet and print rather than radio. The site has faced pressure
 from authorities, however.
In August, Presidential Communications-Counsellor Willy Nyamitwe indicated those outlets
 suspected of “supporting rebels” would remain closed. Not long after, he accused Iwacu of lying,
inciting hostile threats from online government-supporters.


Despite hostility from officials and online threats, Iwacu’s audience increased and it has 
sought new funding. Radio Netherlands Worldwide’s WazaOnline branch and Yaga-blog
also initiated the ‘WazaVote’ blog, partnered with Iwacu, for Burundian citizens.
In May, some remaining journalists who hadn't fled into exile created SOS Médias Burundi
 using Facebook, Twitter, and SoundCloud, quickly gaining thousands of followers.
 Aware of limited Internet-access, they also target anxious diaspora and international audiences,
and their website calls for international solidarity. Deprived of studios and security,
 they have continued reporting “underground” with smartphones and social media.


In the same month, however, WhatsApp and Viber were reportedly blocked by major telecoms.
Over 100 journalists fled by December, risking perilous escape routes.

Escaping cyclical violence

Lower revenues and journalists’ precarious exiles have threatened radios’ ability to
eventually reopen, as well as Burundian media’s future. Government-discourse often
conflates rebels and unidentified gunmen with journalists and rights activists as one single
‘opposition’ to justify restricting even peaceful critics, from calling Interpol
on politicians to ‘punishing’ protesters.

The government’s militaristic approach seeks to control or stifle critical media and
 opposition, considering them existential threats rather than democratic partners.
Repression incites rebellion, though, one ‘legitimizing’ the other, causing divisive
 cyclical violence and shrinking political space.
This ‘underground’ reporting helps to challenge impunity for rights abuses and inform
 citizens inside and outside Burundi. Amid police raids and insurgents’ grenades,
 trusted media can support civilian rights and broad dialogue, needed to avoid indefinitely
trapping Burundians between authoritarian militarization and insurgency.

Source- Global Voices