Central African Republic continues to witness a series of military coup attempts, army mutinies, and rebellions. Armed confrontations continue to affect the country and security remains one of the major concerns for human rights defenders. Human rights defenders and journalists who denounce human rights violations by government soldiers, including looting of property, torture, rape and murder, regularly face arbitrary arrests, judicial proceedings, death threats, serious harassment and intimidation, and slander. Local NGOs and journalists who have focused on denouncing government corruption, fighting impunity for perpetrators of crimes, and seeking justice for the victims of the armed conflict atrocities, are particularly targeted by the authorities.

Defamatory campaigns aimed at discrediting human rights defenders are orchestrated at the highest level. The President of the Republic, Mr François Bozizé has allegedly described human rights defenders and members of NGO's as 'protectors of criminals' during a speech in 2006.

Freedom of expression and assembly are extremely limited in the CAR. The Human Rights Committee has welcomed the 2005 Freedom of the Press and Communication (Organization) Act which decriminalises press offences. Nevertheless, most journalists continue to be subjected to pressure, intimidation, imprisonment and ill-treatment by the authorities. Permission is required to hold public meetings and demonstrations, which in some cases has been denied by the government for "security reasons".