Media in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

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The Media in the Democratic Republic of the Congo operates against a backdrop of political power struggles and violent unrest.

Media watchdog Reporters Without Borders says media workers face arrest, threats and violence. Reporters exposing corruption are at particular risk.

Nonetheless, the press has been able to criticise government bodies, and some publications serve as mouthpieces for opposition parties.

There are several daily newspapers and many more sporadic publications. In addition, there are dozens of private TV stations and more than 100 private radio stations, some of which broadcast news.

Church radio networks are growing, but the state-controlled broadcasting network (RTNC, or Radio-Television Nationale Congo) reaches the largest numbers of citizens.

The UN Mission in DR Congo (MONUC) and a Swiss-based organisation, Fondation Hirondelle, launched Radio Okapi in 2002. The network's mostly-Congolese staff broadcast news, music and information about MONUC activities. It aimed to promote dialogue across the political divide.

The BBC is available on FM in Kinshasa; listeners in the city can hear Radio France Internationale broadcasts from neighbouring Brazzaville.

[edit] External links

• L'Avenir (daily)
• Le Potentiel
• Raga TV
• Radio Okapi
• Top Congo 88.4 FM
• Reporters sans frontières - Democratic Republic of Congo - Annual report 2005