Central African Republic Travel Guide - Communications

Country code: 236.

Roaming agreements exist with a few international mobile phone companies. Coverage is limited to the capital, Bangui.

Available in some towns.

There is a post office in each prefecture. Local postal services are unreliable. Both postal and telecommunications services are in the course of development. Airmail services to Europe take approximately one week, although it is often much longer; surface mail can take up to three months.

Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0730-1130 and 1430-1630; Sat 1430-1830; Sun 0800-1100, open for stamps and telegrams only.

There is journalistic freedom in the Central African Republic to the extent that private newspapers criticise Government policies and allegations of corruption, but these are likely permitted because most of the populace both cannot afford them and cannot read them (there is a high rate of illiteracy in the country). Those radio and TV stations that are are state-run provide little to no coverage of the political opposition. It was only until 2004 that prison terms for press offences were abolished.

• There are several daily newspapers, including Le Citoyen (an independent publication), Le Confident (an independent publication) and L'Hirondelle (an independent publication).
• The weekly publications have limited distribution and are in French.
• Centrafrique-Presse is a state-owned bi-monthly publication.

• Television Centrafricaine is state run.

• The national state-run broadcaster is Radio Centrafrique.
• Radio Notre Dame is a Roman Catholic broadcaster based in Bangui.
• The UN-sponsored Radio Ndeke Luka can be relied upon for a balanced viewpoint.