BBC Afrique celebrates official launch of new FM relay in Bangui

BBC Afrique is celebrating the launch of BBC 90.2 FM in Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic, with special programming, events and training courses for local broadcasters. On Friday 24 April 2009, a special day of programmes and features, dedicated to the Central African Republic, will be broadcast from Bangui. The morning and evening flagship news and current affairs programmes, BBC Matin (06.00 GMT) and BBC Soir (18.00 GMT), will be broadcast live from Bangui as will a special edition of the debate programme, L'Afrique En Direct. Plus, Le Star Club, a youth-oriented music programme, will be presented from Bangui, with audiences invited to a live performance with local musicians. The BBC is also running a five-day training course for radio journalists in the Central African Republic. Trainees will join the BBC production team working on the Central African Republic Day on BBC Afrique on 24 April. Simon Kendall, BBC World Service Head Of Business Development, Africa and Middle East, says: "The new BBC FM service in Bangui is an exciting and important development for BBC Afrique and improves our service to audiences who will now be able to listen in crystal clear FM quality." The Head of BBC Afrique, Razvan Scortea, adds: "The new FM in Bangui helps us get closer to audiences in the region, and we are looking forward to producing special BBC output dedicated to the Central African Republic. Our mission is to go beyond headlines and present a rounded picture of what life is actually like in this vibrant but little known country." Cyriaque Gonda, the Central African Republic Minister of State in charge of Communication, says: "A country can only open up truly to the world - for the sake of peace, stability and sustainable development for its people - through a news organisation with an undisputed reputation. The BBC is one such organisation which gives the Central African Republic access to a global multi-lingual platform with an extensive network." BBC Afrique broadcasts about eight hours a day. Its three main news and current affairs programmes, BBC Matin (06.00-07.30 GMT), BBC Midi (12.00-12.30 GMT) and BBC Soir (18.00-18.30 GMT), focus on news in French-speaking Africa and across the continent and the world. Millions across Francophone Africa tune in to its programmes on FM, shortwave and online, via the website, bbcafrique.com. The programmes are produced in the BBC's studios in London and in the bureaux in Abidjan, Bujumbura, Kigali and Kinshasa. In addition to its daily programmes, BBC Afrique takes a look at news and current affairs in its weekly feature programmes: L'Interview, Africana, Britannia, L'Autre Actualite, Sport Weekend and Afrique Hebdo. Interactivity makes up a big part of the BBC Afrique output as audiences are
invited to share their views by SMS messages sent to programmes and via the Forum pages on bbcafrique.com. On the weekly programmes, Le Club BBC and Star Club, listeners can exchange
views, find friends or dedicate songs to friends and family. The monthly programme, L'Afrique En Direct, encourages listeners to take part in debates with specially-invited guests.

(BBC World Service Publicity)