Burundi Minister calls for media to promote national development

Burundi’s Minister of Communication and Media, Evelyne Butoyi, has called on media professionals to play a more active role in promoting the country’s development, social cohesion, and international image. During a coordination retreat in Butanyerera, Butoyi emphasized that communication actors should focus on disseminating information that highlights national potential and supports the country’s developmental vision.

Specifically, the Minister urged community radio stations to showcase local achievements and stressed the importance of valuing the national language as a pillar of identity. She also encouraged media outlets to pursue revenue-generating projects to diversify their income streams.

In a separate engagement in Gitega, Butoyi reminded journalists of their responsibility to provide accurate and reliable information while avoiding falsehoods. She described journalists as ‘the eye of the citizen’ in monitoring national progress. Ahead of upcoming elections, she advised media professionals to closely follow the activities of the National Independent Electoral Commission (CENI) and encouraged them to promote security and civic engagement.