Media of the Republic of the Congo

Media of the Republic of the Congo are severely restricted by many factors, including widespread illiteracy and economic underdevelopment.

The Congolese depend primarily on radio for information. This is mainly due to high illiteracy rates. Access to other forms of media outside the capital is poor. Even Pointe-Noire, the second largest city and the country's economic capital, does not have its own local newspaper. Internet access is very limited, and most citizens have no access to computers in any case.^[1]

The public radio and television broadcaster in the Republic of the Congo is Radiodiffusion Television Congolaise. Private radio and television stations are allowed. The country has one press agency, Agence Congolaise d'Information, which is a public agency.

Freedom of speech

Freedom of speech is severely curtailed in the Republic of the Congo. During 2009 national elections, a number of reporters from major international press organizations, including France 24, BBC and Radio France International, were harassed, physically attacked by police and soldiers, and had equipment seized.^[2]

Print

There are a handful of newspapers in the Republic of the Congo. All newspapers are based in Brazzaville, and publish in French:

• "Le Choc"
• "L'Observateur"
• "L'Humanitaire"
• "Le Tam Tam"
• "Les Echos du Congo"
• "La Semaine Africaine", a religious publication of the Roman Catholic Church

Television

• TV Congo, government operated

Radio

In addition to Congolese radio stations, stations from nearby Kinshasa, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, can be received in the Brazzaville. Rebroadcasts of the BBC World Service, Radio France Internationale, and the Voice of America are available.^[3]

• Radio Congo, government operated national station
• Radio Brazzaville, government operated local station for the capitol
• Radio Liberte, privately owned
• Canal FM, Brazzaville community station

Telecommunications

Fixed line telephone infrastructure in the Republic of the Congo is very limited; fewer than 1 in 100 citizens have a fixed telephone line. Mobile phone communication has grown rapidly, and by 2011 more than 50 in 100 citizens had a mobile phone. 245,000 citizens are estimated to be Internet users, out of a total population of more than 3,800,000.^[4]

References

1. ^ "Republic of Congo Media Sustainability Index (MSI)". IREX. http://www.irex.org/resource/republic-congo-media-sustainability-index-msi. Retrieved August 20, 2011. 
2. ^ "Foreign journalists harassed during and after presidential poll". Reporters Without Borders. http://en.rsf.org/congo-foreign-journalists-harassed-20-07-2009,33903.html. Retrieved August 20, 2011. 
3. ^ "Republic of the Congo profile". BBC. July 12, 2011. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14121194. Retrieved August 20, 2011. 
4. ^ "Republic of the Congo". CIA World Factbook. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/cf.html. Retrieved August 20, 2011. 

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