Burundi : journalists sharpen their writing skills for high-tension elections

SOS Médias Burundi

Ngozi, May 5, 2025 – With the June 2025 legislative and district elections approaching, Burundian journalists are preparing to face the challenges of rigorous, responsible, and secure election coverage. In March and April, training sessions were organized in the provinces of Gitega and Ngozi to build their capacities in a sensitive political context.

Supported by national media regulatory institutions, this training focused on good journalistic practices during elections, professional ethics, fact-checking, and, above all, the safety of journalists on the field.

Among the speakers, Jacques Bukuru, a journalist at Burundi National Radio and veteran of media synergy, shared his experiences from previous elections and called for effective coordination between the field and central editorial staff. Francine Ndihokubwayo of Radio Télévision Isanganiro emphasized the need for reliability and balance in reporting, recalling that “journalists must first and foremost consider their own safety. A journalist can only do their job if they are alive.”

Lessons learned from previous elections

Journalists who covered the 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2020 elections discussed the importance of media synergy in disseminating rapid and coordinated information, while highlighting the difficult conditions, particularly nighttime travel and sensitive areas.

Structural and logistical challenges

Major concerns include insecurity during election vigils, long vote counting hours, and fuel shortages, which hamper travel. Added to this is the recent administrative reform, which reduced the number of provinces from 18 to 5, complicating territorial coverage.

Espérance Ndayizeye, Chairperson of the National Communication Council (CNC), acknowledged these challenges and promised logistical support from the government. She also urged journalists to demonstrate neutrality, diligence, and professionalism throughout the electoral process.

A clear commitment to a responsible press

This capacity-building session marks an important step towards credible, balanced, and ethical election coverage. In the small East African nation, where the role of the media remains central to democratic development, journalists intend to play their part responsibly.

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Burundian journalists interviewing an artist in the political capital of Gitega, photo credit : Jean Pierre Aimé Harerimana