Burundi’s New Media Rules for 2025 Elections: Balancing Fairness and Press Freedom

As Burundi prepares for its legislative and district elections scheduled for June 5, 2025, the country’s media landscape is facing sweeping changes. On May 13, the National Communication Council (CNC) released a 27-article decision outlining new rules governing media coverage during the electoral period. The aim, according to the CNC, is to ensure fairness, pluralism, and equal access to media for all candidates. But the implications—especially for independent and community media—are raising serious concerns.

Key Provisions and Immediate Reactions

Under the new regulations, both public and private media are allowed to cover the election campaign (Article 3). However, Article 4 mandates that all such coverage be provided free of charge, which presents a significant challenge for already under-resourced independent outlets.

Foreign journalists and media houses face additional hurdles. According to Article 5, they must secure accreditation from the National Center for National Elections before the campaign begins. Media freedom advocates worry this could be used to limit critical foreign reporting.

State media are required to allocate equal airtime to all candidates, with time slots managed according to CNC guidelines (Articles 7 and 8). If a candidate misses their scheduled appearance by more than 10 minutes, they forfeit the slot entirely (Article 16).

In another tightly controlled measure, campaign messages cannot be interrupted by advertisements (Article 24), and only official election results may be broadcast after the polls close (Article 25).

A Divided Media Community

CNC Chairperson Espérance Ndayizeye has defended the rules, arguing they are designed to ensure balanced and fair coverage. However, many local journalists see the guidelines as overly rigid and potentially dissuasive. Community radio managers, in particular, say the compliance demands are overwhelming for small newsrooms that already struggle with limited staffing and equipment.

As a result, some media professionals have indicated they may avoid covering the campaign altogether, fearing they cannot meet the strict requirements without risking penalties.

Implications for Information Access

Burundi already faces challenges in media freedom and information diversity. The new election media rules, while seemingly aimed at fairness, risk further narrowing the space for independent voices. By imposing uniform requirements without accounting for the unequal capacities of media outlets, the policy may unintentionally silence those it aims to empower.

As the country moves closer to the June elections, the spotlight is on whether these regulations will foster a more balanced information environment—or contribute to a chilling effect on journalism.

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