Central African Republic - Media



Bangui is linked by satellite for telephone communication with France, the UK, the US, and Greece. The Republic has radiotelephone, telegraphic, and telex links with Paris. In 1997 there were more than 10,000 main line telephones and about 570 cellular phones in use.

Broadcasting services are government owned and operated by Radio–Télévision Centafrique. Television transmissions are available only in Bangui. Broadcasting is in Sango and French. In 2000, there were about 80 radios and 6 television sets for every 1,000 people. There were only 1,500 Internet subscribers and one Internet Service Provider in 2001.

The nation's first daily newspaper, the government controlled E Le Songo, began publication in 1986. Its circulation in 1995 was 2,000.

The Centrafrique Presse , was created by the government in 2001 to reflect the views of the ruling MLPC. Echo de Centr Afrique is a private daily newspaper but seems to be linked to the ruling party. Le Citoyen, Be Afrika, and Le Democrate are the most widely read private newspapers; however, many private papers publish sporadically. The official news agency is Agence Centrafricaine de Presse. The Agence Centrafricaine de Presse (ACAP) bulletin appears sporadically.

The constitution provides for freedom of speech and of the press. In 2000, the president dissolved the High Broadcast Council, which had been created to regulate the media. However, the government still seems to control much media and its content.

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