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May 21, 2025 – Central Africa –
Landry Ulrich Nguéma Ngokpélé, the editor of Le Quotidien de Bangui, has been detained since May 8, 2025, under charges including “inciting hatred against the government” and “disseminating information tending to cause public disorder.” These charges stem from a report published on April 22, 2025, concerning the alleged return of former President François Bozizé to the capital, Bangui. The journalist is currently held in pre-trial detention at the Ngaragba prison in Bangui, facing potential penalties under the penal code that could result in up to 15 years in prison.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has called for the immediate release of Nguéma Ngokpélé, emphasizing that the charges against him send a chilling signal across the media sector in the Central African Republic. CPJ urges authorities to ensure that journalism is not criminalized and that journalists can work freely and safely.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has also condemned the arbitrary nature of the detention, highlighting that the use of the penal code to prosecute a journalist is an attempt to circumvent press law, which has not provided for custodial sentences for press offenses since 2004. RSF demands transparency from the judicial authorities and calls for Nguéma Ngokpélé’s immediate release.
This case underscores the ongoing challenges faced by journalists in the Central African Republic, where reporting on sensitive political issues can lead to legal repercussions. The international community continues to monitor the situation, advocating for the protection of press freedom and the rights of journalists in the region.
Reference –
https://allafrica.com/stories/202505220440.html
https://cpj.org/2025/05/central-african-republic-journalist-landry-ulrich-nguema-ngokpele-detained/
