Rwanda media guide

Rwanda's government imposes legal restrictions and informal controls on the media, and most outlets practice self-censorship.

The few journalists in the country who engage in independent reporting are subject to criminal charges and intimidation, says NGO Freedom House

BBC Great Lakes broadcasts have been banned in Rwanda since 2014 following a BBC Two television documentary that questioned the official Rwandan genocide narrative.

BBC Great Lakes is now only available on its website and Facebook. However, BBC English, French and Swahili services can still be heard on FM in Rwanda.

There were 5.9 million internet users by December 2021, comprising 45% of the population (Internetworldstats.com). Facebook is the leading social media platform.

The government has increasingly blocked access to news websites based abroad, says Freedom House. It says this is partly because many journalists have fled the country and now work in exile and online.