Burundi has opened consultations on a proposed law that would regulate influencers and content creators, a step that would bring the country’s fast-growing online publishing sector under a dedicated legal framework for the first time.
The Ministry of Communication and Media convened influencers, content creators, legal experts and jurists for a workshop that began Wednesday, seeking input on legislation to govern people who produce and distribute content online.
Minister of Communication and Media Evelyne Butoyi said the ministry wanted input from people working in the sector before the law is finalized.
“The ministry first wanted to gather the ideas of the stakeholders involved so that, when it is established, this law faithfully reflects the concerns of all parties involved and is adapted to the realities and Burundian culture,” Butoyi said, according to a ministry statement.
The government has not released draft provisions of the legislation. It remains unclear whether the law would require creators to register, set rules for commercial promotions, impose disclosure requirements for sponsored content, or establish penalties for violations.
Those questions carry weight as influencers increasingly straddle entertainment, advertising, journalism and online business.
NO SINGLE REGIONAL MODEL
Burundi’s proposal comes as other countries in the region address similar questions, though most have stopped short of standalone influencer laws.
Tanzania has no specific statute governing social media influencers as a separate legal category. Existing law, including the Cybercrimes Act, can apply to online conduct, and the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority maintains a broader framework for online content; the authority published amendments to its Electronic and Postal Communications (Online Content) Regulations in June 2026.
Kenya has taken a broader media-regulation approach. Its 2025 Media Council Code of Media Practice includes rules on sponsored content, advertising, user-generated content and the use of artificial intelligence, and requires that sponsored material be clearly identified and that financial compensation, free products and other benefits behind endorsements be disclosed.
South Africa has relied mainly on advertising regulation and industry standards rather than a dedicated influencer law. A Content Creator Charter developed by the Interactive Advertising Bureau South Africa with the Advertising Regulatory Board calls for transparency in relationships between creators and brands and disclosure of paid or sponsored content. South Africa has also begun addressing influencers on tax grounds, the South African Revenue Service said in 2025 that income received by social media influencers including compensation in cash, products, services or travel must be declared.
Uganda regulates aspects of online activity through existing cybercrime and communications law. Its Computer Misuse Act addresses misuse of social media and establishes liability for certain prohibited online communications.
Rwanda’s framework similarly relies on cybercrime and data-protection laws rather than a single influencer statute, though its official gazettes increasingly recognise influencer marketing as a commercial service.
WHAT BURUNDI’S LAW COULD DECIDE
The consultation leaves several questions open for Burundi’s digital sector.
One is how to define an influencer or content creator whether the law would apply only to people earning money from online audiences, or also to those who publish political commentary, entertainment, news, educational material or other content without commercial sponsorship.
Advertising could be another major issue. If influencers promote businesses, financial products, health products or other commercial services, the government could require creators to identify paid partnerships and distinguish advertising from independent content.
The law could also address misinformation, privacy, copyright, child protection and harmful or illegal content, though it is not yet clear which of those areas will be included.
Enforcement remains unresolved as well. The government has not said whether creators would need to register with a regulator, whether a new oversight body would be created, or what sanctions might apply.
The distinction will matter to creators. A law focused on advertising and consumer protection would function differently than one that establishes broad controls over what people can publish online.
By consulting influencers and content creators before finalizing the bill, the ministry has opened a window for those affected to help shape where those boundaries are drawn.
For now, Burundi remains at the consultation stage, with the government yet to publish the draft provisions that will determine the scope of the proposed law.
