Telecommunications

Bangui is linked by satellite for telephone communication with France, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Greece. The Republic has radiotelephone, telegraphic, and telex links with Paris. In 2003, there were an estimated two mainline telephones for every 1,000 people; about 1,200 people were on a waiting list for telephone service installation. The same year, there were approximately 10 mobile phones in use for every 1,000 people.

Television

Television broadcasting services are government owned and operated by Radio–Télévision Centrafrique. Television transmissions are available only in Bangui. Broadcasting is in Sango and French. In 2002, there was one television station. In 2003, there were an estimated 6 television sets for every 1,000 people. The same year, there were two personal computers for every 1,000 people and one of every 1,000 people had access to the Internet.

Radio

Radio Centrafrique [fr] is operated by the state. Radio Notre Dame is held by the Roman Catholic Church and Radio Ndeke Luka [fr] is backed by the United Nations. In 2002, there were five FM and one AM radio stations. In 2003, there were an estimated 80 radios for every 1,000 people.

Print

The nation’s first daily newspaper, the government controlled E Le Songo, began publication in 1986.^[1] Its circulation in 1995 was 2,000. The Centrafrique Presse, was created by the government in 2001 to reflect the views of the ruling MLPC. Echo de CentrAfrique is a private daily newspaper but seems to be linked to the ruling party.

Le Citoyen,^[2] Be Afrika, and Le Democrate are the most widely read private newspapers; however, many private papers publish sporadically. The official news agency is Agence Centrafricaine de Presse. The Agence Centrafricaine de Presse (ACAP) bulletin appears sporadically.

Freedom of Speech

The constitution provides for freedom of speech and of the press. In 2000, the president dissolved the High Broadcast Council, which had been created to regulate the media. However, the government still seems to control much media and its content.

Kenya hosts some of the best sites for astronomical research on the African continent thanks to unusally low cloud coverage – but does not have its own observatory. Thanks to its position on the equator, it gives access to more than 85% of the sky in both northern and southern celestial hemispheres – and there are also several mountain top sites within easy reach of existing roads that offer the prospect of good observing.

“Since there exists no local tradition for optical astronomy in the country, the construction of an observatory in Kenya would need to be undertaken with the involvement both of foreign capital and expertise. An observatory in Kenya could thus meet the needs of international research institutions while enabling a local astronomical community to grow over a period of years. It would also act as a focus for Kenyan talent that would otherwise drift abroad,” adds Dr. Wells.