Democratic Republic of Congo

Journalists and media outlets in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo are under constant threat from Mai-Mai militiamen and other armed groups.

The establishment of DRC’S Mobile Device Registry places financial burden on consumers and will negatively impact on freedom of expression and the right to access information.

DRC journalist Pius Romain Rolland Ngoie was arrested on defamation charges after he accused parliamentarian Fabrice Puela of blackmailing another politician.

TV reporter Tholi Totali Glody was run over by Democratic Republic of Congo police while covering the lockdown in Likasi, the second-largest city in the Haut-Katanga province.

AFEX and partner JED are asking authorities to thoroughly investigate the killing of Papy Mahamba Mumbere and prosecute the perpetrators.

The African Freedom of Expression Exchange supports Journalist in Danger in their plea to President Tsishekedi to enhance media freedom and prioritise the safety of journalists in the DRC, where the culture of impunity nurtures increased violence against journalists.

RSF and partner organization JED are urging DRC’s President Tshisekedi to follow through on promises to reform the media landscape and put a stop the closure of radio stations and attacks on journalists.

RSF and its partner organization JED are calling on incoming president of the DRC Felix Tshisekedi, to protect journalists and put an end to impunity for crimes committed against the press.

Claiming they want to “preserve public order”, authorities in the DRC have disconnected the Internet, withdrawn the accreditation of Radio France Internationale’s correspondent, disconnected the radio broadcaster’s main transmitters and ordered the suspension of access to the Internet, social networks and mobile phone texting services.

RSF is calling for the immediate release of Peter Tiani arrested in November for defamation for publishing an online article about a large sum of money allegedly stolen from the home of the DRCongo Prime Minister.

Charged with criminal defamation in the Democratic Republic of Congo, journalist Sylvanie Kiaku remains behind bars as she is unable to raise the US$1000 bail.

Hassan Murhabazi, a reporter and presenter from a community radio station in Bukavu, DRC is missing since 11 September.

Police in Kinshasa raided Kin Lartus, a television current affairs production company. The police ransacked the premises, seized material and arrested 10 journalists.

At the beginning of March, 10 members of the National Intelligence Agency (ANR) raided the headquarters of a television channel, RTVGL, and disconnected its broadcast signal.

Once again, authorities in DRC ordered the disruption of internet services just before demonstrations organised by the Catholic Church and the Lay Coordination Committee over the weekend.

A detailed and candid briefing outlining the brutal crackdown on human rights advocates in the DRC was given to the United Nations Security Council Arria Meeting, by Ida Sawyer, the Central Africa Director of Human Rights Watch.