Burundi’s media regulator, the National Communication Council (CNC), has temporarily suspended Yaga Burundi, a leading blogging platform, citing legal irregularities. CNC Chairperson Espérance Ndayizeye announced the decision during a press conference on Thursday, saying that the platform would remain suspended until the issues were resolved.
At the heart of the controversy is AJEBUDI, a parent organization of Yaga Burundi, which applied for the outlet’s legal recognition to the CNC.
“The National Communication Council reviewed the case of the media outlet Yaga Burundi, which had recently been the subject of controversy regarding the legal status of its parent organization, AJEBUDI. Reports suggested that AJEBUDI had not obtained the necessary authorization to operate legally from the Ministry of Interior, which is responsible for overseeing associations,” Ndayizeye told journalists.
“When AJEBUDI submitted its dossier to the CNC, which included a document bearing the signature of the Ministry of Interior, this prompted the CNC to reach out to the ministry for verification. In response, the ministry stated that AJEBUDI was operating unlawfully and added that the document bearing its signature was forged unless the organization could provide evidence proving otherwise.”
She added: “As a result, the CNC decided to temporarily suspend Yaga Burundi until it can present an official document confirming that AJEBUTI has legal authorization to operate in Burundi.”
In response, Yaga Burundi issued a statement on X (formerly Twitter), confirming that it had engaged with the media regulator to seek clarification. “We will engage with the media regulator to obtain more information about this decision,” according to the post.
The suspension comes just days after Yaga Burundi marked its 10th anniversary. However, Ndayizeye clarified that while the platform has existed for a decade, it was only officially recognized as a media outlet in 2022. “The Yaga dossier was submitted to the CNC in 2022 when AJEBUDI applied for authorization for Yaga Burundi to operate as a media organization,” she said.
The CNC chairperson assured the public that Yaga Burundi could resume operations if it meets the necessary legal conditions. “If Yaga Burundi can present the document it previously submitted to the CNC and the Ministry of Interior confirms its authenticity, then Yaga will be allowed to resume its operations transparently,” she said.
Alongside Yaga Burundi’s suspension, the CNC announced the legal authorization of Radio Shalom FM and Look Media Burundi Television to broadcast in the country. However, it also took action against other media outlets, shutting down Radio International Equator, Radio Mawimbi, Ijwi ry’Urwaruka, and Television Burundi Bwiza.
Ndayizeye justified these closures by stating that the outlets had acquired licenses but were not operational, blocking other potential applicants from securing broadcasting rights. “The council had been informed that the number of available broadcasting frequencies was decreasing, so it took this decision to ensure they are properly allocated and effectively used for the benefit of the public,” she explained.
The suspension of Yaga Burundi has sparked criticism from media professionals and the public. Alexis Nimubona, a writer and Yaga reader from Bujumbura, questioned the decision’s timing and transparency.
“If they claim to have found a document that does not comply with the law, one might ask: where does the fault lie? Did Yaga submit an unlawful document? Why did the CNC accept it in the first place? What actions did the CNC take? It has been more than a year, and now the CNC is suddenly claiming that the submitted document was forged? This situation needs to be examined closely,” Nimubona said.
A university student who spoke on condition of anonymity expressed concerns about the impact on young people. “Honestly, I was very surprised because Yaga had a very positive impact on the Burundian youth. It covered topics that other media outlets rarely discussed. There were opportunities we used to get, such as training programs, and if this situation continues, we will lose them,” she said.
Journalism experts have also raised concerns. Jean Paul Nsengiyumva, a journalism lecturer at the University of Burundi, criticized the lack of prior warnings before the suspension.
“As we know in journalism, such decisions are usually made after warnings. A media outlet can receive one or two warnings before a temporary suspension is issued, and if the issue persists, a permanent ban may follow,” Nsengiyumva told Breaking Burundi.
He warned that such abrupt actions damage the credibility of the media sector. “What happened, even though we still lack complete information, is not a good thing. It creates a negative image, especially for the suspended media outlet. The public needs information, and this represents a significant loss,” he added.
Burundi’s press freedom has been a global concern since 2015. According to the 2024 World Press Freedom Index, the country ranked 108th out of 180 nations, a slight improvement from 114th place in 2023.
During the press conference, Ndayizeye reiterated the regulator’s commitment to enforcing media laws. “Our desire is for all media operating in Burundi to function in compliance with the law and to ensure that all media organizations operate with dignity, security, and full legal recognition,” she said.
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