Burundi Blocks Broadcasts from VOA, BBC and Expand Restrictions on their Operations

Last May, the Burundi government suspended both news organizations for six months, a week before holding a referendum on a new constitution. The outlets have been off the air since.

Rachel Nicholson, a researcher for Amnesty International, said Burundi's government is angry at the broadcasters for different reasons.

The government was upset by a documentary the BBC broadcast last year, she said, about members of Burundi's intelligence service operating secret sites where dissidents are detained and tortured.

Burundi has accused VOA of employing a journalist who opposes the government, Nicholson added. Patrick Nduwimana, the former director of Bonesha FM Radio in Burundi, is "wanted for participating in deadly violence that preceded the May attempted coup," the National Council of Communications wrote in Friday's statement.

"I think it's really worrying to see the government personalize attacks on radio stations. They have such an important role to play, particularly BBC and VOA, particularly in the absence of independent Burundian radio stations operating from within the country," Amnesty's Nicholson said. "The BBC and VOA have such an important role to play in sharing information with people in Burundi."