A month-old armed uprising against President François Bozizé’s government has fostered acts of violence against community radio stations and journalists. Elisabeth Blanche Olofio was killed when rebels attacked her radio station.
(RSF/IFEX) – 10 January 2013 – Reporters Without Borders is deeply disturbed by acts of violence against news media and journalists in connection with a month-old armed uprising in the Central African Republic against President François Bozizé’s government.
Community radio stations, a major source of news for much of the population, have been particularly affected.
Reporters Without Borders has learned that equipment was damaged or removed at several radio stations, including Radio Be Oko in the central town of Bambari and Radio Kaga in the central town of Kaga Bandoro.
Radio Be Oko journalist Elisabeth Blanche Olofio was killed when rebels attacked her station. The fate of her colleagues is not known.
According to information obtained by Reporters Without Borders, other journalists have been subjected to physical violence or are being threatened.
“Several community radio stations are no longer able to operate as result of rebel hostility or looting by local residents taking advantage of the chaos,” Reporters Without Borders said. “Although politically neutral, many stations have had to stop broadcasting because they no longer have the required equipment, or out of concern for the safety of their personnel.
“Silencing journalists at times of unrest endangers the population by depriving them of crucial information. It is essential for a solution to the crisis that the acts of violence against the media should stop.”
Radio Magbadja, a radio station recently installed in Alindao by the staff of Radio France Internationale, was also ransacked by members of the Seleka rebel coalition, who took all of its equipment.
The Central African Community Radio Association (ARC) has named eight radio stations as being particularly hit by the violence:
Radio Yata in Birao
Radio Barangbaké in Bria
Radio Linga FM in Bambari
Radio Be Oko in Bambari
Radio Kaga in Kaga Bandoro
Radio ICDI in Boali
Radio Magbadja in Alindao
Radio Mbari in Bangassou.
The Central African Republic is ranked 62nd out of 179 countries in the Reporters Without Borders press freedom index. Although unevenly distributed across the country, radio stations are one of the main sources of news because of the low level of literacy.
More information about the media and freedom of information in the Central African Republic.
