Congo, Democratic Republic of the (DROC) - Media



The postal, telephone, and telegraph services are owned and operated by the government. In 1997, there were about 21,000 main line telephones in use. An additional 15,000 cellular phones were in use by 2000. Radio and television transmission is under the control of the government-owned La Voix du Zaïre, Radio Candip (for educational broadcasts), and Zaïre Télévision, with headquarters in Kinshasa. Broadcasts are in French and in African languages. In 2001, there were 3 AM and 11 FM radio stations and 4 television stations. In 2000 there were about 386 radios and 2 television sets for every 1,000 people. Internet access is limited with only two Internet service providers in 2000, serving about 1,500 users.

Major newspapers are only nominally privately owned. Journalists must be members of the state-controlled union to practice their profession. In 1972, a drastic reorganization of the secular press led to the demise of 27 of the country's remaining 33 newspapers. In March 1973, in the wake of the conflict between church and state, 31 religious publications were suspended. The press today is firmly under MPR control. The largest dailies are La Depeche (2002 circulation, 20,000), Courrier d'Afrique (15,000), and Salongo (10,000). Other dailies include Boyoma, published in Kisangani, and L'essor du Zaire , published in Lumbashi-Shaba.

The Transitional Act provides basic civil rights, including those of free speech and press rights; however, though the situation is said to have improved since the transition began in 1990, in practice the government continues to restrict free speech and the press.

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