RegionWeek 14th Edition

BBC closes down its offices in Bujumbura, Burundi.

After the British Broadcasting Company (BBC) had failed to Tanzania singer now Diamond Platinum is set to perform in Bujumsolve the issues with the government of Burundi, the UKat its Primusic grande finale slated on JulyBill 28,Gates 2019, at ETS World’s based Radio has decided to closebura down office in Burundi, loses Kamenge. in Bujumbura. second richest position.

BURUNDI AND EAST AFRICA WEEKLY BRIEFING JULY 20th 2019 $ 3.50

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Burundi: Francine Niyonsaba appears in 2019FORBES Africa Top 30

Angola President, João Lourenço, convinces Kagame and Museveni to ‘cool down’ and end hostilities.

The Burundi international 800m athlete, Francine Niyonsaba has been named in the 2019 Top 30 list released by FORBES AFRICA.

Kagame reshuffles his administration in a ‘surprise diplomatic shakeup’.

World Bank report contradicts Tanzania’s economic growth estimates After Tanzania’s finance minister told parliament that the country’s economy expanded 7% in 2018, the World Bank (WB) has contradicted it through its second major report from a Multilateral Financial Institution that shows it was 5.2% last year. Reuters reported

BBC closes down its offices in Bujumbura, Burundi.

The president of Angola, João Lourenço, has managed to convince Rwanda’s Paul Kagame and Uganda’s Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to ‘cool down’ and end hostilities to resolve the thorny issue of border row. The summit has seen both Kigali and Kampala to ‘ bury the hatchet’ .

THE BIG PICTURE: Rwanda and Uganda have been in icy relations since the Katuna border closure by Rwanda. this border closure has

sparked angry rhetoric form Both Kigali and Kampala and has resulted in frustrating trade and economy of both countries.

President Paul Kagame on Monday reshuffled the country’s ambassadors and high commissioners in 15 countries in a surprise diplomatic shakeup, dropping some while at the same time appointing new faces, the local newspapers reported .

THE BIG PICTURE: Since joining the Commonwealth organisation in 2009, Kigali’s administration has been stepping up its efforts to maintain its good standing in countries which were former foes like France and some western countries accused by Kigali of looking on while people were being killed during the 1993 ethnic cleansing.

CAF released the Draw for 2021 Africa Cup of Nations The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has released the draw for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nation to be staged in Cameroon.

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AFRICA

Angola President, João Lourenço, convinces Kagame and Museveni to ‘cool down’ and end hostilities.

The president of Angola, João Lourenço, has managed to convince Rwanda’s Paul Kagame and Uganda’s Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to ‘cool down’ and end hostilities to resolve the thorny issue of border row. The summit has seen both Kigali and Kampala to ‘ bury the hatchet’ .

THE BIG PICTURE: Rwanda and Uganda have been in icy relations since the Katuna border closure

by Rwanda. this border closure has sparked angry rhetoric form Both Kigali and Kampala and has resulted in frustrating trade and economy of both countries.

This was said during the Quadripartitue summit was kickstarted on Friday, July 12, 2019. The president of Angola had invited the three presidents of Rwanda, Uganda, and DRC for this quad- countries and relations between Rwanda and Uganripartite summit top discuss ‘re- da,” President Lourenço was quoted. gional issues’.

The report of Daily Monitor says that the meeting beThe move of Paul Kagame and tween Thshidsekedo, Kagame, Museveni and João Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to ‘end Lourenço had lasted for about three hours and in fight’ was shored up by President closed doors. of Angola, João Lourenço.

Then, after the quadripartite summit, Angolan President João Lourenço on Friday expressed optimism that the Katuna border conflict between Uganda and Rwanda could “have better days” and said his country will attempt all measures to ensure cordial relations and stability between the two neighboring countries, Daily Monitor reported .

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a joint communique was signed between the four heads of states indicating that the four presidents agreed to “prioritize the resolution of any dispute between their respective countries by peaceful means through conventional channels and in the Spirit of African brotherhood and solidarity.”

Speaking at the opening of the quadripartite summit at the presidential palace, High City Palace, in the Angolan capital Luanda on Friday, President Lourenço said: “We hope to solve all the problems of the Great Lakes, but many problems may have better days.”

Related: Angola president, João Lourenço, invites Kagame, Museveni, and Tshisekedi for a ‘Quadripartite Summit’.

Reports say that Angola may be wanting to play an “The agenda is short: security ideal candidate to mediate between the Uganda and at the border between the three Rwanda mid this border row standoff.

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AFRICA

RegionWeek Jully 2019

Kagame reshuffles his administration in a ‘surprise diplomatic shakeup’.

President Paul Kagame on Monday reshuffled the country’s ambassadors and high commissioners in 15 countries in a surprise diplomatic shakeup, dropping some while at the same time appointing new faces, the local newspapers

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THE BIG PICTURE: Since joining the Commonwealth organisation in 2009, Kigali’s administration has been stepping up its efforts to maintain its good standing in countries which were former foes like France and some western countries accused by Kigali of looking on while people were being killed during the 1993 ethnic cleansing.

Among the newly-appointed envoys is Maj. Gen. Charles Karamba, the outgoing Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) Air Force Chief of Staff who is now the High Commissioner to Tanzania, replacing Eugene Segore Kayihura, who is headed to South Africa.

In Pretoria, Kayihura replaces the outgoing High Commissioner Vincent Karega, who was appointed Rwanda’s Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The position in Kinshasa has been vacant since August 2017 after the then Ambassador Amandin Rugira was sent to Belgium and European Union as an envoy.

Among the surprise changes, Eng. Jean de Dieu Uwihanganye, who has been the Minister of State for Transport since August 2017 was appointed the country’s High Commissioner to Singapore, replacing Guillaume Kavaruganda, who has been representing Rwanda in Singapore since July 2015.

Boost for Paris-Kigali rapprochement?

In a move to boost Kigali-Paris rapprochement, Paul Kagame has shown he is determined to pass over the Rwanda-France spat over the 1993 ethnic genocide by reappointing new envoy.

Dr. Ngarambe will head to Paris, where he will replace Jacques Kabare –who was Rwanda’s ambassador to France since 2010 when the two countries had a diplomatic rapprochement and agreed to reappoint envoys.

Alfred Kalisa, who has been Rwanda’s Ambassador to Angola. In Luanda, Kalisa will be replaced by Wellars Gasamagera, KT press added .

Mr. Gasamagera was hitherto to the appointment the Director-General of Rwanda Management Institute (RMI).

There is another newly created embassy in Qatar which will have Francois Nkulikiyimfura as ambassador.

Ambassador James Kimonyo, who was appointed Rwanda’s Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China. Kimonyo replaces Lt Gen Charles Kayonga, who has been Rwanda’s Ambassador to China since February 2014.

Kimonyo, a seasoned diplomat was Rwanda’s High Commissioner to Kenya until September 2018 when he was recalled.

Prosper Higiro was appointed Rwanda’s High CommisIn another local Newspaper report , Marie Chantal Rwaka- sioner to Canada in the fresh diplomatic shake-up while zina, who until now was the Mayor of the City of Kigali, Yasmin Amri Sued was appointed Rwanda’s Ambassador was appointed Ambassador to the Swiss Confederation, to South Korea. replacing Dr. Francois Xavier Ngarambe, who has been representing Rwanda in Geneva since 2014.

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AFRICA

WHO declares DR Congo Ebola an ‘international health emergency’.

After the deadly Ebola virus has claimed around 16000 lives so far, the World Health Organization has declared that the Ebola virus in the DRC has become “public health emergency of international concern”.

Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), the WHO Director said it’s time to redouble efforts to “end the outbreak and build a health system”.

However, he reiterated the outbreak still does not pose any threat globally.

‘Neighboring countries on the high alert’ As the Ebola outbreak is seen spreading in the Eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo, neighboring countries are on the high alert and preparedness to tackle this issue of Ebola.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said he had accepted the recommendations of a committee of international experts which stressed there should be no restrictions on travel or trade and no entry screening of passengers at ports or airports outside the immediate region, Euronews reports .

There have been more than 2,500 confirmed cases since last August, in what has been classed as the seconddeadliest Ebola outbreak in history.

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BREAKING NEWS: The #Ebola outbreak in #DRC constitutes a public health emergency of international concern, citing concerning geographical expansion of the virus: WHO DirectorGeneral, @DrTedros following the IHR Emergency Committee’s recommendation #alert — World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) July 17, 2019

Burundi is making sure that all passengers entering and going out of Burundi are screened for any possible signs of Ebola virus.

As Rwanda’s fears are mounting over the Ebola case in Goma city, the possibility of Ebola cross-over into Rwanda is likely to happen since Goma borders Rwanda in the South West.

Related: WHO reports the 2nd Ebola case in Uganda.

The warning has been issued

by Kigali to all passengers traveling to DRC, if possible even The World Health Organisation sounded the alarm to the United to cancel unnecessary visits Nations amid fears that the situation in the DRC risks spilling to DR Cong areas already deinto neighboring countries such as Burundi, Uganda, and Rwan- clared with Ebola. da.

Uganda has seen the secExperts have urged it’s now ‘time to act ’ and hope the UN’s ond case of the Ebola case , declaration on Wednesday will bring greater international atten- as was declared by the World health organization. The case tion and aid to the region described as a war zone. was on a fisherman from DRC A medical magazine reported that the Ebola case in the DRC who was diagnosed with ofthe Ebola sign while in Uganda. has not been considered to pose a threat globally.

Since the deadly outbreak is now considered a Public Health

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SPORT

CAF released the Draw for 2021 Africa Cup of Nations

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RegionWeek Jully 2019

Senegal will feature in Group I against Congo Brazzaville, Guinea-Bissau, and eSwatini.

Here is the 2021 AFCON Qualification draw

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) Group A: Mali, Guinea, Nahas released the draw for the 2021 Africa Cup mibia, Liberia/ Chad of Nation to be staged in Cameroon.

Group B: Burkina Faso, Uganda, Malawi, South Sudan/Seychelles Group C: Ghana, South Africa, Sudan, Mauritius/ Sao Tome Group D: DR Congo, Gabon, Angola, Djibouti v Gambia Group E: Morocco, Mauritania, Central Africa Republic, Burundi Group F: Cameroon, Cape Verde, Mozambique, Rwanda Group G: Egypt, Kenya, Togo, Comoros

The 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying draw was made in Cairo on Thursday, ahead of the tournament to be played Group H: Algeria, Zambia, in Cameroon.

Zimbabwe, Botswana

The draw was held on Thursday, July 18, 2019, during a Group I: Senegal, Congo, 41st CAF General Assembly with President Ahmad Ahmad Guinea Bissau, Eswatini in Egypt.

Group J: Tunisia, Libya, The group phase of the qualifiers will be preceded by a pre- Tanzania, Equatorial Guinea liminary round involving eight teams determined by the last FIFA Rankings. After that, the winners of the four matches Group K: Cote d’Ivoire, will head into the group phase.

Niger, Madagascar, Ethiopia The 48 teams will be divided into 12 groups of four teams Group L: Nigeria, Benin, each and the top two sides from each group will earn a Sierra Leone, Lesotho ticket to the 2021 showpiece in Cameroon.

The 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (also referred to as AFCON 2021 or CAN 2021) will be the 33rd edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, the biennial international men’s football championship of Africa organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). The tournament will be hosted by Cameroon.

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Here’s the full group stage draw for the #TotalAFCON2021 qualifiers pic.twitter.com/gcdy9ahiUr — CAF (@CAF_Online) July Algeria , which set to play Senegal on Friday in the 2019 18, 2019 Africa Cup of Nations final in Cairo, were drawn in Group H alongside Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Botswana.

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SUCCESS

Bill Gates loses World’s second richest position.

Bill Gates, once the world’s secondrichest man after Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, has been unseated as the second richest man in the world, losing the position to Bernard Arnault, the chairman, and CEO of LVMH.

line, Fendi, Moët, Hennessy, Dom Pérignon, and others, Daily post noted.

As LVMH’s share price has soared in 2019, so has Arnault’s worth. It now stands at about $107.6 billion, more than $200 million ahead of Gates, Bloomberg estimates.

The report also stated that Gates would have been ranked the richest person, even ahead of Bezos if not for his philanthropic giveaways which gave Arnault more room to climb.

Fortune reports that Arnault, 70, joined Gates and Amazon.com Inc. founder Jeff Bezos, the world’s richest person, in the most exclusive wealth club last month, when his fortune surpassed $100 billion for the first time.

The French entrepreneur entered the luxury industry in 1984 when he bought According to Bloomberg, Gates’ chari- Boussac, a textile empire in the midst of table giving is a big reason why he has bankruptcy that owned Dior. lost ground among the world’s richest.

He has donated more than $35 billion to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, says the report.

USA Today reports that Bill Gates lost his title as the world’s second-richest person in the world to French billionaire Bernard Arnault , chairman, and CEO of luxury products group LVMH, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

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Arnault is worth $108 billion, while Gates is valued at $107 billion. Over the past year, Arnault has added $39 billion to his net worth. Holding the top spot on the index is Amazon CEO and founder Jeff Bezos at $125 billion, Bloomberg reported.

Arnault set about reviving it, turning it into a vertically integrated company that did its own production, distribution, and marketing.

The World’s richest man, Jeff Bezos, his net worth is up slightly this year to $125 billion, even after reaching a divorce Arnault and his families are the majority settlement with MacKenzie Bezos that owners of Christian Dior and LVMH, par- made her the world’s fourthrichest woment of such brands as Louis Vuitton, Ce- an.

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SPORT

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RegionWeek Jully 2019

Burundi: Francine Niyonsaba appears in 2019FORBES Africa Top 30 The Burundi international 800m athlete, Francine Niyonsaba has been named in the 2019 Top 30 list released by FORBES AFRICA.

Since then, she has gained speed at earning the gold medals at the 800 meters at the 2016 World Indoor Championships in Portland, and last year, at the World Indoor Championships in Birmingham.

Niyonsaba reportedly said that the challenge women face in Burundi is that they feel they can’t achieve anything elsewhere in the world.

“In Burundi, in our culture, women believe they cannot do something special in the world, but it is just a mentality,” she said. “A woman can do everything!”

Born on May 5, 1993, Francine Niyonsaba has been selected in the category of Sports alongside Caster Semenya from South Africa, and Margaret Nyairera Wambui from Kenya and other Africa-international football players such Sadio mane from Senegal, Mohamed Salah from Egypt. Niyonsaba appeared in FORBES Top 30 list after the establishment of a new category by FORBES AFRICA namely ‘Game-Changers’ FORBES’ Game-changers comprises Business, Technology, Creative, and Sports sectors.

Francine Niyonsaba made history in 2016 when she won Burundi’s first Olympic medal in 10 years. She won a silver medal, finishing second in the 800 meters Rio de Janeiro Olympics race. She came second to her rival on the track and friend off the track, Caster Semenya.

“Running had always been in my blood,’’ Niyonsaba told FORBES This year (2019), Niyonsaba together with South African Caster Semenya revealed that they have hyperandrogenism which is a condition that gives them high levels of naturally occurring testosterone.

The two were affected by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) rule to control hormone levels.

“For sure, I didn’t choose to be born like this, what am I? I love myself, I will still be Francine.

I will not change,” Niyonsaba told Olympic Channel.

The 26-year-old is passionate about inspiring other women in sport and putting Africa on the map as she is third-placed in the Women’s 800m in the IAAF world rankings.

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ECONOMY

World Bank report contradicts Tanzania’s economic growth estimates

After Tanzania’s finance minister told parliament that the country’s economy expanded 7% in 2018, the World Bank (WB) has contradicted it through its second major report from a Multilateral Financial Institution that shows it was 5.2% last year. Reuters reported The World Bank report has contradicted Tanzania’s economic growth stated to have expanded 7% in 2018 as Tanzania finance minister told parliament in June.

Reuters, which was first to report this matter, says the World Bank has proved it to be wrong through its second major report from a Multilateral Financial Institution which shows that Tanzania’s economic growth was 5.2% last year (2018).

According to the World Bank (WB) report unveiled on Thursday, July 18, 2019, as Reuters reported, its calculations based on state data shows that Tanzania growth in 2019 is 5.4% which is said to be lower than the government’s estimate of 7.1%.

The WB added that Tanzania’s growth was affected by a decline in investment, exports and private lending last year.

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“Data related to consumption, investment and net trade suggest that growth softened in 2018,” the report said.

Reuters mentioned that the WB report comes after unpublished International Monetary Fund (IMF) report in April that also raised questions over Tanzania head of state John Pombe Magufuli’s handling of the economy.

As it is indicated in a leaked version of the WB report, seen by Reuters, the government was accused of undermining the economy with “unpredictable and interventionist” policies, saying medium-term growth would be around 4-5 percent, again below official forecasts.

The WB said in its report that investment growth was subdued partly because of government struggles to meet spending targets in development projects.

The economy could grow to 6% by 2021 “with a modest improvement of the business climate and a pick-up in [foreign direct investment] and other private investment,” the World Bank report said.

According to other economic indicators that illustrate the slowing economy in Tanzania , the current account deficit widened to 5.2% percent of GDP in the year ending January 2019, up from 3.2% a year earlier, as the WB said.

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“The value of exports dropped nearly 4% in 2018, partly because the government banned cashew exports, a major foreign exchange earner, due to low prices.

“On the other hand, the construction of the standard gauge railway and expansion of Dar es Salaam port helped drive up the value of imports by 7.8%,” the World Bank said.

“The government should minimize economic risk by improving the business environment and fiscal management,” it recommended.

“Globally, Tanzania is also vulnerable to weaker demand, tighter financing conditions, and higher international energy prices,” added the WB report.

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BURUNDI

Burundi Ombudsman Edouard Nduwimana received a Ph.D. Diploma in Leadership and Management

The Ombudsman of the Republic of Burundi Edouard Nduwimana received Honoris Causa Ph.D. Diploma in Leadership and Management on Friday, 19 July 2019, at the end of the High-Level Summit jointly organized by London Graduate School and Commonwealth University.

The ceremonies related to the granting of this honorary title were held at Jacob’s Garden Hotel in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

This honorary Ph.D. diploma awarded to the Ombudsman of the Republic of Burundi is a unique prize, specially dedicated to personalities whose actions are likely to inspire their generation and contribute to the integral development of citizens and communities.

The Ombudsman of the Republic of Burundi said that it is a pride for himself, the Institution of the Ombudsman and his country Burundi.

Several delegations from different African countries took part in this meeting and took the opportunity to congratulate him.

The graduation ceremonies to Edouard Nduwimana, Ombudsman of the Republic of Burundi, were preceded by a summit on leadership under the main theme: “Strategies for growth and sustainability for key leaders, professionals, and entrepreneurs “.

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RegionWeek Jully 2019

Incredible: He walked 10,000 Km from South Africa to Egypt for AFCON Alvin Zhakata, a Zimbabwean nurse made a roadtrip from Cape Town in South Africa to Cairo Egypt to watch the 2019 Total Africa Cup of Nations opening game that kicked off 21 June 2019, when Zimbabwe’s Warriors locked horns against Egypt (the hosts).

Alvin Zhakata also known as “Aluvah” had intended to make it to Egypt for the opening match of the 2019 AFCON with high impression to support his nation, Zimbabwe, but he missed the match because his epic journey took much longer than expected.

Aluvah took his road to Cairo for AFCON enduring visa delays, internet blackouts and revolutionary protests all for the love of football.

His trip to Cairo took 10.000 km (6,200mile) in 44 days. The 32-year-old arrived in the Egyptian capital last week.

The journey reportedly began on 27 May on a route passing through South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, Sudan, and Egypt.

Aluvah said that his trip was well despite some nerve-wracking experiences as he admits to have learned a lot about himself and Africa through this trip.

“I used to think I was not patient – but my patience was stretched to the maximum – I’ve got a bigger patience threshold than I thought,” he told the BBC. Aluvah added that “Africa is not friendly to Africans” – in terms of visas and borders as he decided to take the road to Cairo following Visa delay.

“And some of the visa fees for African countries, they are actually more expensive than visa fees when you want to go to Europe – and the waiting period takes too long.

“I believe we need a borderless Africa.”

Aluvah said that he and his friend, who is stated to be a South African football fan namely Botha Msila, wanted to make history as the first people to make it from Cape to Cairo by road for a sports tournament.

BBC said that the two were in touch since they first met at the COSAFA Cup final in South Africa’s Sun City two years ago.

Msila had told Aluvah about how he made a solo road trip in 2016 from Harare to Kigali to support the Warriors of Zimbabwe at the African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Rwanda.

The two again packed up and took the road to Cairo but they were unwillingly separated when Msila turned back at the Kenya-Ethiopian border following the lack of Visa.

Dream becomes true Aluvah has now become a celebrity and he has already got his free ticket presented by the African football president Ahmad Ahmad to watch the 2019 AFCON final clash between Senegal and Algeria on Friday, 19th July 2019 at Cairo international stadium.

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AFRICA

BBC closes down its offices in Bujumbura, Burundi.

After the British Broadcasting Company (BBC) had failed to solve the issues with the government of Burundi, now the UK-based Radio has decided to close down its office in Burundi, in Bujumbura.

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“The BBC is closing its bureau and operations in Burundi until further notice after efforts to resolve issues with the authorities there failed. In March the government banned BBC transmissions and anyone in the country from providing information to the BBC, Will Ross wrote on Twitter.

The BBC is closing its bureau and operations in Burundi until further notice after efforts to resolve issues with the authorities there failed. In March the government banned BBC transmissions and anyone in the country from providing information to the BBC.

Will Ross, a BBC journalist working on Africa section, has added that the ‘the government of Burundi accused BBC of airing a documentary that damaged the country’s reputation’.

This happened after the Gitega government decided to suspend BBC license to work on its land after the radio This was said by BBC Africa Journalist, Nick Erickson , published a news item condemning the government’s inwhere he wrote on Twitter that the BBC is ‘going to close telligence agents abused the human rights of Burundi down its office in Burundi after the BBC’s failure to sort citizens. out the issue that soured relations between Gitega GovRelated: BBC and VOA suspended to broadcast in Burunernment and BBC’. di ‘until further notice’.

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The BBC is closing its bureau and operations in Burundi. This follows a ban imposed on the BBC by the government in March, Nick Erickson wrote on Twitter.

Then, the Burundi government banned the BBC and decided to also ban BBC journalists to work for the radio either a Burundian or a foreigner.

The #BBC is closing its bureau and operations in #Burundi. This follows a ban imposed on the #BBC by the government in March – #BBC — Nick Ericsson (@nickericsson) July 16, 2019

BBC and Voice of America have been banned in Burundi for failing to meet the ‘journalistic standards’ as Burundi government stated.

Another BBC correspondent, Will Ross, who works on the African Edition, has also announced that the BBC closed down its office ‘until further notice ‘until further notice‘.

Related: Burundi government accuses BBC of ‘lying’ in its video broadcast .

BBC claims that it had1.3 million viewers and listeners in Burundi. Viewers either watch TV broadcast or online material and listeners of Radio.

RegionWEEK is a Weekly News Briefing about Brurundi and East Africa.

Publisher: RegionWeek Ltd Editor in chief: Fabrice Iranzi Head of Africa Bureau: John Nshimirimana 11, Avenue du Gouvernement, Rohero Bujumbura-Burundi Tél: +257 79 43 28 86 P.O Box 6402 Bujumbura