Radiodiffusion Télévision du Burkina (RTB) is the national public broadcaster of Burkina Faso, headquartered in the capital city of Ouagadougou. Established in 1959 as Radio Haute-Volta, the outlet has since evolved into a multi-platform media institution encompassing radio, television, and digital services. RTB plays a central role in shaping the national media landscape and remains the government’s primary mouthpiece for public communication.
Media assets
Television: RTB Television
Radio: RTB Radio
State Media Matrix Typology
Ownership and governance
RTB is a fully state-owned enterprise, operating under the auspices of the Ministry of Communication and Relations with Parliament. The broadcaster was restructured as a société d’État (state-owned company) through Law No. 2015-059, adopted in November 2015 by the Council of Ministers. As such, its Director General is appointed by presidential decree, and all key management roles are filled at the government’s discretion. The broadcaster’s staff are employed under public service status.
In July 2023, Galip Somé was appointed Director General. As of mid-2025, no further leadership changes have been publicly reported, although local press associations have expressed concern over the opaque process surrounding board appointments.
The appointment of Jean-Emmanuel Ouédraogo, a former RTB journalist and then Communication Minister, as Prime Minister in December 2024 has further intertwined state authority with RTB’s leadership, reinforcing government influence over the broadcaster
Source of funding and budget
RTB’s funding is derived from a mixed model comprising direct government subsidies, commercial advertising, and limited self-generated revenue. Despite its public service remit, RTB does not publish detailed or audited financial reports. Available information from media insiders and regulatory stakeholders suggests that state subsidies remain the dominant source of funding, reinforcing the outlet’s dependence on public finances.
In 2025, amidst mounting fiscal pressure from the transitional government, several civil society organizations raised concerns about the lack of transparency in RTB’s budget allocations, particularly in the wake of increased public spending on state propaganda and security messaging. No formal commitments to improve financial disclosure have yet been announced.
Editorial independence
Although RTB’s legal framework does not explicitly mandate editorial alignment with government policy, the broadcaster’s coverage overwhelmingly reflects the views and priorities of state authorities. Officials often assert that RTB operates with full editorial autonomy. However, empirical findings and testimony from local media professionals consistently suggest the opposite.
An independent content analysis conducted in 2024 revealed that more than 80% of RTB’s political coverage favored the government’s narrative, with opposition voices and critical commentary largely absent or marginal. Several documented cases in late 2023 and early 2024 exposed direct interventions by security agencies and the Ministry of Communication to block or alter critical reports, particularly those related to military operations and governance challenges during the country’s transitional period.
To date, no independent oversight body or internal editorial statute has been implemented to guarantee or monitor RTB’s editorial impartiality. Calls from journalists’ unions and international media freedom organizations for the establishment of an autonomous media regulatory authority remain unanswered.
June 2025