BBC banned to broadcast in Burundi

Burundi National Media Council on Friday said it has withdrawn the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) radio station's authorization to operate in Burundi, due to BBC's "slanderous" documentary.

It is strictly forbidden for any Burundian or foreign national journalist to directly or indirectly provide BBC information that can be broadcast on its radio, said Nestor Bankumukunzi, chairman of the media council at a press conference here.

The media council had suspended the BBC radio station for six months since May 7, 2018 as BBC was accused of violating principles of "balance of information" and "rigorous verification" of sources.

BBC officials "affirmed and recognized the mistake," but later broadcast a documentary movie that is "false, slanderous and full of fabrications", said Bankumukunzi.

The movie showed "serious professional violations," violating the law governing the press in Burundi, he said.

He also said the Voice of America (VOA) radio station is still on suspension until further notice.

VOA has been suspended since May 7, 2018 for continuing to disseminate programs on a local radio station that was suspended in 2015 and hiring a Burundian journalist who is facing an international arrest warrant.

VOA officials in Burundi "are not compliant with the law" by approving specifications required by the media council like other Burundian media houses operating in Burundi, said the chairman.