Burundi Travel Guide - Communications

Country code: 257.

Coverage mainly in the west of the country.

Available in some areas. There are a few Internet cafes in Bujumbura.

Post office hours: The main office in Bujumbura is open Mon-Fri 0730-1200 and 1400-1730, Sat 0830-1200.

Burundi's media are self-censored and also receive occasional government censorship. Nevertheless, a range of political views are sometimes aired. There is a high turnover rate for newspapers. The sale of newspapers is quite low due to small print runs and low levels of literacy. The main source of information for many Burundians is therefore the radio. The only radio station with national coverage is government-owned, as is Burundi's only TV station.

• No English-language newspapers are published.
• Most publications are in French (such as Le Renouveau du Burundi) or local languages (such as Ubumwe in Kirundi).
• The two main newspapers are government-controlled.

• RTNB is government-controlled and broadcasts in English, French, Kirundi and Swahili.

• Radio Burundi is government-controlled (by RTNB), and also operates an educational network.
• Radio Isanganiro and Radio Publique Africaine are private (although the latter receives some UN and overseas funding).
• Radio CCIB+ is operated by the Burundi Chamber of Commerce.
• Other radio broadcasters in operation with the aid of funding include Bonesha FM (funded by international organisations with the intention of promoting reconciliation) and Radio Culture (partly funded by the health ministry).