The United States urged the Burundi government to let both the Voice of America (VOA) and the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) resume operations in the country.
Burundi accuses the VOA of working with Patrick Nduwimana, a journalist the government accuses of having taken part in a failed coup in May 2015. The government indefinitely suspended VOA broadcasts as a result.
Burundi issued a complete ban of the BBC because the network aired a documentary that detailed suspected secret torture and detention sites in Burundi. Burundi also accuses the BBC of breaking press law. The government denies allegations levied in BBC’s story.
Journalists in the country, local and foreign, were also barred from supplying both broadcasters with news.
“The decision raises serious concerns for the freedom of expression enshrined in Article 31 of Burundi’s constitution, as well as for Burundi’s international human rights obligations,” State Department Deputy Spokesperson Robert Palladino said during a department press briefing on Tuesday.
The US also urged the authorities in Burundi to allow all journalists to operate in an environment free from intimidation.
“A free and independent media is indispensable to a vibrant, functioning democracy and to free and fair elections in 2020,” Palladino added.
The National Communications Council (CNC) revoked the operating licence of the BBC and indefinitely suspended broadcasts by the VOA on March 29.
Human Rights Watch condemned the move to sanction the broadcasters accusing the government of attacking the remaining pillars of freedom ahead of elections in 2020.
