The killing of Kambale Musonia brings the tally of journalists killed to six since 2007.
(JED/IFEX) – 22 June 2011 – JED is deeply troubled by news of the assassination, on 21 June 2011, of a journalist working for a community radio station. JED vehemently condemns this killing and calls on provincial authorities to immediately begin a serious investigation into the matter. Those responsible for what is now the sixth murder of a journalist in eastern DRC in the span of five years should be found and prosecuted. JED equally calls upon the national authorities to set in motion concrete measures that will put an end to the cycle of violence that has targeted journalists.
Kambale Musonia, a 29-year old journalist who worked for Radio Communautaire de Lubero Sud, was gunned down a few metres from his home by armed men.
According to JED sources, the journalist was returning home from work when he crossed paths with his assailants. It was further stated that four days prior to his murder, Kambale hosted a live broadcast entitled “Kirumba rise up”, where Marcel Tengeleza, a local civil society representative, was a guest. During the show, the participants denounced the climate of insecurity caused by the presence of a local armed gang made up of civilians operating in complicity with the police.
JED notes that since 2007, five other journalists and media professionals (Serge Maheshe, Patrick Kikuku, Didace Namujimbo, Koko Chirambiza, and Patient Chebeya) have been killed in the North and South-Kivu provinces alone, making these the most dangerous places for journalists to operate in the DRC.
