Central African Republic Country Profile – Information

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From BBC

Given the shortage of electricity, remote locations rely on word-of-mouth and messengers. Newspapers are privately owned, and their reach is limited by low literacy levels and a lack of distribution in rural areas. Around 5% of the population is online and approximately 22% of the population has cell phones. As in many African countries, radio stations are the most effective means to reach large segments of the population. The country has one government-controlled television station and about two dozen privately-owned radio stations. Many of them are run by religious organizations. BBC World Service (90.2 FM), Radio France Internationale and the Voice of America are available via local relays in Bangui. Radio Ndeke Luka (“bird of luck”), run by Swiss Non-Government Organization (NGO) Fondation Hirondelle, provides balanced output and rebroadcasts international news bulletins. MINUSCA runs Guira FM, which is available in the capital and in the regions. The station is named after a tree under which differences are solved and it works to bring together Muslim and Christian communities.

Radio is the most popular medium. State-run Radio Centrafrique has limited FM coverage.

Radio Ndeke Luka (“bird of luck”), run by Swiss NGO Fondation Hirondelle, provides balanced output, and rebroadcasts international news bulletins.

The UN stabilisation mission (MINUSCA) runs Guira FM, which is available in the capital and in the regions. The station is named after a tree under which differences are solved. 

There are about two dozen privately-owned radio stations. Many of them are run by religious organisations. 

Newspapers are privately-owned. Their reach is limited by low literacy levels and a lack of distribution in rural areas. 

BBC World Service (90.2 FM), Radio France Internationale and the Voice of America are available via local relays in Bangui.

Around 224,000 citizens were online by 2016 – around 4.5% of the population (InternetLiveStats.com). Internet access is mainly confined to Bangui. 

Press

Television

Radio

Internet

 

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These products are the results of academic research and intended for general information and awareness only. They include the best information publicly available at the time of publication. Routine efforts are made to update the materials; however, readers are encouraged to check the specific mission sites at https://minusca.unmissions.org/en or https://peacekeeping.un.org/en/mission/minusca.