Media in Djibouti

The national media landscape in Djibouti is shaped particularly by Djibouti Radio Television (Radio Télévision de Djibouti), the French-language La Nation, the Arabic-language Al Qarn, and the Djibouti News Agency (Agence Djiboutienne d’Information; ADI). These services appear in print, on the web, and in some cases with video, audio, and live content. RTD produces and distributes information, education, culture, and entertainment through radio, television, and its web portal with Journal TV and RTD en Direct. RTD programming rules provide for news formats in Arabic, Somali, Afar, and French; sensitive broadcasts, especially those intended for children and young people, must be identified. Private audiovisual production and the operation of radio, television, cable, or satellite services may require a licence and corresponding terms of reference (Cahier des charges). The Ministry of Communication, responsible for Posts and Telecommunications (Ministère de la Communication, chargé des Postes et des Télécommunications; MCPT), is responsible for media policy, oversight, accreditations, press cards, and licensing procedures. The National Communication Commission (Commission Nationale de la Communication; CNC) oversees audiovisual, print, and electronic media as an independent administrative authority. The Multisectoral Regulatory Authority of Djibouti (Autorité de Régulation Multisectorielle de Djibouti; ARMD) is responsible for electronic communications networks; the National Agency for State Information Systems (Agence Nationale des Systèmes d’Information de l’État; ANSIE) concerns state information systems and cybersecurity. Streaming in Djibouti is available primarily through RTD en Direct and national web and social-video offerings. A reliably documented local streaming subscription with its own extensive catalogue has not been established. Global platforms depend on internet access, network quality, availability, and the prices charged by the respective services; current end-user tariffs cannot be determined reliably from the sources reviewed. The 2024 broadband strategy and ARMD reform aim to improve affordability and increase competition. Public documents continue to identify cost, quality, and coverage as access barriers. An estimate by DataReportal and Kepios indicates around 765,000 internet users and an internet penetration rate of 65 percent in early 2025; this is not an official count. Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram serve as news, advertising, and participation channels. A social-media page is not automatically a professional media outlet. Journalistic use requires fact-checking, source verification, separating facts, analysis, and opinion, and protecting privacy, image rights, dignity, minors, and vulnerable people. Risks include disinformation, defamation, hate speech, and cyberbullying. Alternative or exile-based services have been documented, but access to them may be restricted; La Voix de Djibouti is reported to have been blocked or disrupted. Professional journalism in Djibouti is understood as full-time, regular, paid journalistic activity from which the main income is derived. For national or equivalent applicants, the CNC provides for a press card (Carte de Presse). Foreign journalists do not fall under this national card rule; instead, they apply for accreditation through the Directorate of Communication and Media (Direction de la Communication et des Médias). The published validity rule for the press card is contradictory and should be verified with the competent authority before an application. An appeal against a CNC decision must be filed within 10 to 15 working days; 30 days are stated for a decision by the MCPT. Journalists have access to administrative documents and protection of their sources. Lifting source protection is permitted only by a judge in closed proceedings. At the same time, state, security, diplomatic, and investigative secrets, as well as rules concerning public order, dignity, religious morality, terrorism, fanaticism, racism, tribalism, high treason, peace, security, unity, and sovereignty, restrict reporting. The media and streaming rights law (Loi n°154/AN/06/5ème L) also provides the legal framework for rights in media and streaming content; rights should be clarified before any use. The CNC also has responsibilities for protecting children and young people. An internet watch cell receives reports of illegal content and helps remove it. Djibouti Télécom may remove content at the request of the CNC or ANSIE; an access block may be ordered by the Procureur, and blocking data are retained for at least twelve months. Processing personal data of people under 18 generally requires the express consent of their parents or legal guardians. A parental-control system is intended to be preinstalled and available for activation free of charge. The Constitution and Law No. 97/AN/20 (Loi n°97/AN/20) protect freedom of communication and the right to information. The CNC is intended to promote media pluralism, fair party access to the media, coordination of election coverage with CENI and CERI, protection of privacy and dignity, and programmes for people with hearing impairments. Anyone interested may contact the CNC in writing. Media participation therefore takes place through the press, RTD, websites, social media, and national information or discussion services. The underlying research was recorded on 7 September 2026; licence fees, specific streaming prices, and individual access deadlines are not reliably published.