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Central African Republic


Seleka fighters cruise a neighborhood in Bangui. (AFP/Sia Kambou)

New York, March 26, 2013--At least two news outlets were raided in the Central African Republic on Sunday when rebel groups ousted the president from power, according to news reports and local press freedom groups.

Editors from both these newspapers have been convicted on charges that include defamation. (Hirondelle)

New York, January 31, 2012--The convictions of two journalists in the Central African Republic over their critical coverage of a top official constitute political censorship, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. 

New York, January 25, 2012--The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on authorities in the Central African Republic to immediately release a newspaper editor imprisoned since January 16 and to drop a politicized prosecution that stems from the paper's critical coverage of a presidential relative who also serves as the government's finance minister. 

Sandy and Bambou are free after spending weeks in jail for covering public protests.(Centrafrique-Presse)

New York, July 12, 2011-- Two Central African Republic journalists were fined and released from custody Monday after being jailed for weeks in connection with their coverage of public protests by retired military officers who say the government failed to direct European Union funds to them as intended, according to news reports and local journalists.

New York, June 7, 2011--Central African Republic authorities have charged the director of the independent weekly The Hills of Bangui, Faustin Bambou, with inciting hatred and disorder among the military forces and insulting the government, Bambou told CPJ. The director was sent directly to Ngaragba Prison in the capital, Bangui. Four military policemen arrested Bambou at his office on May 27 and detained him at their Research and Investigations Department for 10 days before they presented him with any official charges, according to local journalists.   

Your Excellencies: As you gather in Paris for festivities that celebrate your nations’ 50 years of independence, we, the undersigned African press freedom advocates petition for your public commitment to a free, vibrant, and self-sustaining press as a cornerstone of the development of francophone Africa in the next five decades.

In a ruling issued on January 9, 2009, the state-run media regulator, the High Communication Council, suspended from circulation the private daily Le Citoyen for one month for allegedly violating journalism ethics, according to news reports and local journalists.  

UPDATE

FEBRUARY 23, 2008
Posted March 14, 2008
Original alert: January 29, 2008

Faustin Bambou, Les Collines de l'Oubangui

IMPRISONED

Director Faustin Bambou of the private biweekly Les Collines de l'Oubangui was released from prison on a partial presidential pardon, according to news reports and local journalists. 

Bambou told CPJ he contracted the flu and malaria while sharing a cell with six or seven cellmates. He was serving a six-month prison sentence on charges of incitement to revolt over a story alleging a high-profile political scandal.

Attacks & developments throughout the region
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Africa

Program Coordinator:
Sue Valentine

Advocacy Coordinator:
Mohamed Keita

East Africa Consultant:
Tom Rhodes

West Africa Consultant:
Peter Nkanga

svalentine@cpj.org
mkeita@cpj.org
trhodes@cpj.org
pnkanga@cpj.org

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Special Reports on Central African Republic