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Alerts - Central African Republic

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Central African Republic

Press Freedom Day presidential pardon for jailed newspaper editor

The pardon came after the Union of Journalists announced they would refrain from commemorating World Press Freedom Day in protest against Samba's detention.

Central African Republic

Editor sentenced to 10 months in jail on libel charge

The court also ordered Ferdinand Samba to pay 15,000 euros in damages and a fine of 1,500 euros, and banned "Le Démocrate" from publishing for one year.

Central African Republic

Editor jailed in politicised case

Police arrested Ferdinand Samba, top editor of the private daily "Le Démocrate", due to the paper's critical coverage of a presidential relative who also serves as the government's finance minister.

Central African Republic

Judge fines and releases two journalists

"We felt the effect of the strong campaign on our behalf by international organizations, RSF, foreign ministries, the UN and local journalists," said Faustin Bambou, one of the the two released journalists.

Central African Republic

Prosecutor seeks three-year jail terms for detained editors

Following a successful campaign to get a press law that ended prison sentences for journalists in defamation cases, the conviction of Faustin Bambou and Emmanuel Cyrus Sandy could mark a serious setback for civil liberties in the country, says RSF.

Central African Republic

Journalist detained despite decriminalisation of press law offences

Faustin Bambou is charged with "inciting violence and hatred" following publication of several articles about embezzlement.

Central African Republic

Daily suspended for two weeks

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders voices its support for the newspaper editors who have decided to cease publication for two weeks, starting on 21 April 2009, in solidarity with the daily "L'Hirondelle". The newspaper was suspended by the High Council for Communication (HCC) for two weeks from 20 April for publishing an article on 2 April allegedly "calling for sedition by the armed forces."

Central African Republic

Editor freed after receiving presidential pardon

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders hails Faustin Bambou's release on 23 February 2008 following an announcement on the national radio station that he had been pardoned by President François Bozizé. The editor of the privately-owned weekly "Les Collines de l'Oubangui", Bambou spent six weeks in prison.

Central African Republic

Newspaper editor sentenced to six months in prison on charges of libel, insult and "incitement to revolt"

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders condemns the six-month prison sentence passed on 28 January 2008 on Faustin Bambou, the editor of the privately-owned weekly "Les Collines de l'Oubangui", on charges of libel, insult and "incitement to revolt" because of an article accusing two ministers of taking kickbacks.

Central African Republic

Newspaper editor held on charge of "inciting a disturbance of the peace"

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has called for the release of Faustin Bambou, the editor of the privately-owned weekly "Les Collines de l'Oubangui", who was arrested on 11 January 2008 and charged on 15 January with "inciting a disturbance of the peace" and "rebelling against the country's institutions" because of an article accusing two government ministers of embezzlement.

Central African Republic

President of private press group sentenced to prison

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 2 April 2007 CPJ press release:

Central African Republic

Charges brought against imprisoned editor in conflict with media regulator

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is a 29 March 2007 IFJ media release:

Central African Republic

Private press group executive jailed after criticizing official media body

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 13 March 2007 CPJ press release:

Central African Republic

Ex-presidential guard member threatens RSF correspondent

(RSF/IFEX) - The following is an abridged version of RSF's statement:

Central African Republic

ARTICLE 19 calls on prime minister to respect freedom of expression

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) - The following is a 12 December 2005 ARTICLE 19 letter to Central African Republic Prime Minister Elie Dote:

Central African Republic

Three journalists receive death threats from soldiers and supporters of the president

(RSF/IFEX) - In a letter to President François Bozizé, RSF urged him to "make a personal commitment" to ensure that the threats and intimidation that have targeted three journalists in recent weeks are stopped. The threats have come from members of the presidential guard and supporters of the "Kwa Na Kwa National Convergence".

Central African Republic

Parliament passes law decriminalising press offences

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF welcomes the passage of a law ending prison terms for press offences. The Central African Republic's transitional (CAR) Parliament adopted the law on 25 November 2004.

Central African Republic

RSF hails publishers' "day without newspapers" to demand decriminalisation of press offences

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF has hailed a 30 September 2004 announcement by the Central African Republic Association of Private and Independent Newspaper Publishers (Groupement des éditeurs de la presse privée indépendante de Centrafrique, GEPPIC) saying it will no longer publish newspapers on Fridays, beginning 1 October, until President François Bozizé's government keeps a promise to decriminalise press offences.

Central African Republic

Imprisoned journalist receives suspended sentence

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a CPJ press release:

Central African Republic

High Court adjourns deliberation in case of imprisoned publication director Maka Gbossokoto

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF has called for the immediate release of Maka Gbossokoto, publication director of the independent daily "Le Citoyen" and an RSF correspondent, following a 16 July 2004 court appearance at which the Bangui High Court prosecutor asked for a 12-month prison sentence with no parole for Gbossokoto. RSF also demanded that all charges against the journalist be dropped.

Central African Republic

Publication director arrested, five others summoned by interior minister

(JED/IFEX) - Alexis Maka Gbossokoto, publication director for the private daily "Le Citoyen", based in the capital, Bangui, was arrested on 8 July 2004 at 11:00 a.m. (local time) and remanded in custody at the criminal investigations unit of the Bangui gendarmerie, following a defamation complaint brought against him by the former director of the power utility company Energie centrafricaine (ENERCA), Jean-Serge Wafio. The journalist was questioned before being placed in police custody on the orders of the state prosecutor.

Central African Republic

Journalist arrested, house searched

(JED/IFEX) - On 21 May 2004, at about 8:00 a.m. (local time), Corneille Wanguia-Vickot, assistant editor-in-chief of the daily "Le Confident", published in the capital, Bangui, was arrested on the order of Interior Minister Jules Bernard Ouande. The journalist's home was also raided after he refused to disclose his sources for a story. He was released after spending 48 hours in detention.

Central African Republic

Journalist released from prison

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 17 May 2004 CPJ press release:

Central African Republic

Two journalists granted provisional release

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a CPJ press release:

Central African Republic

Two journalists detained

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a CPJ press release:

Central African Republic

CPJ concerned about journalist's continued imprisonment despite presidential pardon for non-violent prisoners

(CPJ/IFEX) - In a 14 April 2004 letter to President François Bozizé, CPJ renewed its demand that imprisoned journalist Jude Zossé be immediately and unconditionally released. The organisation is also concerned that Zossé remains jailed despite the president's 15 March pardon for non-violent prisoners.

Central African Republic

Publication director of private daily "L'Hirondelle" sentenced to six months in prison

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a CPJ press release, followed by the organisation's 11 March 2004 letter to Central African Republic President François Bozizé:

Central African Republic

Bangui prosecutor seeks 18-month prison sentence against newspaper director for "insulting the head of state"

(RSF/IFEX) - Bangui Public Prosecutor Firmin Seindiro is seeking an 18-month prison sentence against Jude Zossé, director of the private daily "L'Hirondelle" (The Swallow"). Zossé is charged with "insulting the head of state". The journalist, who has been detained since 25 February 2004, was not granted a provisional release. A verdict in the case is expected to be delivered on 12 March.

Central African Republic

Journalist imprisoned

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a CPJ press release:

Central African Republic

CPJ concerned about state of press freedom as "National Dialogue" opens

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 9 September 2003 CPJ letter to President François Bozizé:

Central African Republic

Journalist released, another faces legal harassment

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF has protested the arrest of Ferdinand Samba, publication director of the independent daily "Le Démocrate", who was detained for four days, beyond the legal time limit for detentions in police custody.

Central African Republic

Publication director of "Le Democrate" newspaper arrested in Bangui

(JED/IFEX) - On 11 July 2003, police officers arrested Ferdinand Samba, publication director of the daily "Le Démocrate", based in Bangui, the capital, at the headquarters of the Central African Republic Private and Independent Press Publishers' Association (Groupement des éditeurs de la presse privée et indépendante de Centrafrique, GEPPIC). Samba is being held at the police station in Bangui's port.

Central African Republic

Publication director sentenced to six months' imprisonment

(JED/IFEX) - On 26 June 2003, a court in La Lobaye, a city located 105 kilometres from Bangui, the capital, sentenced Michel Ngokpele, publication director of the Bangui-based newspaper "Le quotidien de Bangui", to six months' imprisonment with no parole for "defamation by means of the press" and "incitement to ethnic hatred".

Central African Republic

Journalist released from prison

Central African Republic

Publication director arrested

Central African Republic

Director of private daily "Le Citoyen" threatened with imminent arrest

Central African Republic

French journalist expelled, radio stations censored, journalists threatened

Central African Republic

Publication director of "Le Citoyen" receives death threats

Central African Republic

Director of "Le Journal des droits de l'Homme" sentenced to two months' imprisonment

Central African Republic

CPJ concerned over deterioration of press freedom standards

Central African Republic

Managing editor arrested

Central African Republic

12 month prison sentences for two journalists called for

Central African Republic

Journalist arrested, two others sought

Central African Republic

President threatens the press

Central African Republic

Journalist forbidden from entering the country

Central African Republic

Journalist expelled

Central African Republic

Journalist sentenced to prison