The head of the prominent Burundian independent radio station RPA has fled the central African country amid a crackdown by security forces loyal to President Pierre Nkurunziza, a rights activist said Saturday.

RPA boss Bob Rugurika was subject to threats of jail and even death following a failed coup attempt against President Nkurunziza and "has had to seek shelter in another country," said Innocent Muhozi, head of the Burundian Press Observatory and himself a independent media boss.