Burundi: government reaches out to media under sanctions
Police officers outside the premises of the African Public Radio (RPA), in Bujumbura, April 26, 2015. REUTERS / Thomas Mukoya
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4 min
Considered before the 2015 crisis as one of the rare states in the region to have a free and independent press, Burundi now occupies the 160th place out of 180 in the 2020 ranking of press freedom established by RSF .
Willing to turn the page of 2015 or operation of seduction of the European Union, President Evariste Ndayishimiye is stepping up his actions towards the media.
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A month ago, President Evariste Ndayishimiye pardoned the four journalists from the weekly Iwacu, sentenced to 2.5 years in prison in October 2019 in a trial described as "iniquitous".
And three days ago, he extended his hand this time to the national and international media under sanctions since the crisis of 2015, asking the National Communication Council to sit down with their officials to "
find solutions to the disputes
" that exist.
Everything went fast
On February 1, the National Communication Council met in Bujumbura, representatives of the media "
under sanctions
" present in Burundi;
internationals like the VOA and the BBC but also some local media, barely three days after the presidential injunction.
“
It was a first contact meeting.
The CNC will soon receive us in turn so that we can find solutions on a case-by-case basis,
”according to one of the participants who admitted that the weight of absentees was felt.
These are the private station RPA and the Renaissance radio and television station, destroyed during the 2015 coup attempt, as well as dozens of journalists who fled into exile, some of whom are the subject of warrants. international stops.
Most are refugees in neighboring Rwanda from where they continue to inform, on social networks, about what is happening in Burundi, to the chagrin of Gitega.
Media officials in exile hailed "
a step in the right direction
", but they believe that as it stands, the conditions are not met for a return to Burundi.
President Evariste Ndayihimiye assured on Friday that he wants to turn the dark page of 2015 but the government is under European Union sanctions and, simple coincidence or not, these maneuvers are taking place while the resumption of "
political dialogue
" with its main donor is scheduled for Tuesday, February 2, in Bujumbura.
We are ready to participate in the dialogue which should enable us to resolve the serious problems which prevent us from working, such as the arrest warrants issued against certain media officials and journalists, security concerns, problems related to press freedom. and expression… If all these questions are put on the table (…) it would be a considerable progress…
Innocent Muhozi, director of Renaissance FM
Esdras Ndikumana
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Burundi
Media
Évariste Ndayishimiye
On the same subject
Burundi: the four journalists from Iwacu have been released