Radio Centrafrique is the Central African Republic’s national public radio broadcaster, operating under the aegis of the state. Over the years, the station has grappled with chronic underfunding, recurrent looting, and infrastructure decay. A major setback occurred in 2013 when two of its transmitters were stolen, effectively confining its broadcasts to FM within the capital, Bangui. As of 2025, the station struggles to deliver even half of its scheduled programming, due to both technical and operational constraints.
Media assets
Radio: Radio Centrafrique
State Media Matrix Typology
Ownership and governance
Radio Centrafrique functions as a direct extension of the Ministry of Communication and Media, with no legal or structural safeguards for editorial or managerial independence. The station lacks a governing board, financial autonomy, or decision-making latitude. All key operational choices—from equipment procurement to staffing—must be approved by the ministry.
The general manager (Directeur général), appointed under the influence of the presidency, leads the station but has limited authority. The broadcaster does not have its own financial department, and decisions on budgeting and human resources remain fully centralized under ministerial control.
Source of funding and budget
Radio Centrafrique’s budget is embedded within the Ministry of Communication and Media’s broader state allocation. The station does not retain any revenue it generates; instead, advertising income and broadcast fees are collected directly by the National Treasury, which maintains a dedicated unit within the ministry’s headquarters for this purpose.
Although an Internews assessment from 2014 described this opaque arrangement, local journalists confirmed in 2020 that the setup remains unchanged. The state has also footed the bill for the station’s transition from analogue to digital broadcasting, though further details remain scarce.
Editorial independence
While overt political interference reportedly diminished after 2013, Radio Centrafrique remains firmly under state control. The station’s editorial direction is tightly aligned with the priorities of the government and the ministry that houses it. A lack of investigative culture and journalistic rigor further hampers independent reporting. News output is dominated by coverage of official press conferences and events organized by government ministries, ruling party figures, and international bodies. Dissenting voices and critical perspectives are systematically excluded—not through overt censorship, but through editorial neglect and structural bias.
The broadcaster does not operate under a statute that enshrines its independence, nor does it undergo external evaluation or audits of its editorial practices. Its placement within the Ministry of Communication inherently constrains its programming diversity, limits innovation, and stifles the professional development of its staff.
July 2025