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 […]
President of private press group sentenced to prison
(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a 2 April 2007 CPJ press release: CAR: President of private press group sentenced to prison New York, April 2, 2007 – A criminal court in the Central African Republic’s capital, Bangui, today sentenced to prison the president of a private press group, who has been jailed since March 12 […]
Charges brought against imprisoned editor in conflict with media regulator
(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is a 29 March 2007 IFJ media release: IFJ Calls for Release of Editor in Conflict with Media Regulator in Central African Republic The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today condemned the Central African Republic’s attack on editor and media activist Michel Alkhaly Ngady, who has been charged with “obstruction of […]
Private press group executive jailed after criticizing official media body
(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a 13 March 2007 CPJ press release: Private press group executive jailed in CAR after criticizing official media body New York, March 13, 2007 – The leader of a local group of private press editors was jailed on Monday in the capital Bangui over statements critical of the governmental High […]
Ex-presidential guard member threatens RSF correspondent
(RSF/IFEX) – The following is an abridged version of RSF’s statement: Reporters without Borders has condemned threats made against Maka Gbossokoto, the director of the private daily newspaper “Le Citoyen” (“The Citizen”), by a presidential guard sub-lieutenant who was recently dismissed from the army and is known for his brutality. After the 4 January 2006 […]
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: Dear Mr. President, ARTICLE 19 is seriously concerned with the Central African Republic’s (CAR) approach to the media and freedom of expression. The recent 29 October 2005 declaration of interim Transport Minister Fidel Gouandjika […]
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”. Since 8 […]
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. “CAR journalists can be proud to have led a peaceful and successful campaign [to decriminalise press offences], which is so important for the building of a […]
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 […]
Imprisoned journalist receives suspended sentence
(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a CPJ press release: CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: Imprisoned journalist receives suspended sentence New York, August 9, 2004-A court in the Central African Republic’s capital, Bangui, today sentenced Maka Gbossokotto, publication director of the private French language daily Le Citoyen, to a 12-month suspended jail term and a 500,000 CFA franc […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Journalist released from prison
(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a 17 May 2004 CPJ press release: CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: Journalist released from prison New York, May 17, 2004 – Judes Zossé, publication director of the private daily newspaper L’Hirondelle (The Swallow) in the Central African Republic, was released from prison on Friday, May 14, under a presidential pardon. He […]
Two journalists granted provisional release
(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a CPJ press release: CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: Two journalists granted provisional release New York, April 19, 2004-Mathurin Constant Momet, publication director of the independent daily Le Confident, and Le Confident Editor-in-Chief Patrick Bakwa, were granted provisional release from police custody on April 17 after being held for about 24 hours. […]
Two journalists detained
(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a CPJ press release: CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: Two more journalists detained New York, April 16, 2004-Mathurin Constant Momet, publication director of the independent daily Le Confident, and Le Confident Editor-in-Chief Patrick Bakwa were detained today by police in Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic (CAR), and held for […]