Nathan Ntahondi elected head of Burundi media regulator
The new president of the National Communication Council (CNC) promises to modernize the institution and foster dialogue with media professionals.
Nathan Ntahondi was unanimously elected president of Burundi's National Communication Council (CNC) on November 6, 2026, by the 15 members of the institution. He succeeds Espérance Ndayizeye, who had led the body since 2024. Léonce Ntakirutimana was elected vice-president, replacing the late Laurent Kaganda.
Ntahondi, a communications and ICT specialist formerly director general of Publications de presse burundaise (PPB) and chair of the ARCT, aims to reform the CNC to adapt to the digital media changes. He stated his commitment to making the CNC a modern institution that regulates through dialogue before sanctions and protects journalists.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) ranked Burundi 119th out of 180 countries in its 2026 World Press Freedom Index, a slight improvement from the previous year. Ntahondi's election occurs as the country's media sector continues to face challenges to journalistic freedom.