Democratic Republic of Congo

(CJFE/IFEX) – The editor of the newspaper “Le Potentiel” and president of the non-governmental organisation Médias pour la paix (Media for Peace), Modeste Mutinga Mutuishayi, was arrested by agents of the National Security Agency (Agence Nationale de Sécurité, ANS) on 11 August 1999. The arrest took place in the offices of “Le Potentiel” at approximately […]

(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to Human Rights Minister Léonard She Okitundu, RSF demanded that the police officers responsible for the poor treatment of two journalists be identified and punished. The press freedom organisation is incensed that state representatives resort to such behaviour. Robert Ménard, the organisation’s secretary-general, recalled that the Democratic Republic of Congo […]

(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to Minister of Information and Tourism Didier Mumengi, RSF demanded the lifting of the ban on broadcasts of foreign programmes imposed on a number of Congolese radio and television stations. The organisation expressed its concern that these Congolese media may be hit with sanctions. Robert Ménard, the organisation’s secretary-general, explained […]

(CPJ/IFEX) – CPJ is greatly alarmed by the continued imprisonment of journalists Mbakulu Pambu Diambu and Godefroid Kiangwe Buleya. With the Arusha Peace Accords now in place, CPJ is demanding the immediate and unconditional release of both journalists. **Updates IFEX alert of 27 April and 25 March 1999** Pambu Diambu, president of the Matadi chapter […]

(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to Moïse Nyarugado, the vice-president of the Congolese Union for Democracy (Rassemblement congolais pour la démocratie, RCD), RSF demanded that the seized equipment of the Maendeleo radio station be returned by RCD soldiers. Robert Ménard, the organisation’s secretary-general, explained that “this seizure effectively amounts to a ban on the radio […]

(RSF/IFEX) – On 23 July 1999, Freddy Loseke Lisumbu, the editor-in-chief of the three times weekly “La Libre Afrique”, was released from detention. He was notified of the decision to release him temporarily by the Kinshasa-Kasa Vubu court’s presiding judge, Kabira Faïda. Loseke is still barred from going to airports, train stations and ports in […]

(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to Minister of Justice Mwenze Kongolo, RSF has asked that Jean-Fidèle Mamba and Freddy Loseke Lisumbu not receive prison sentences. RSF recalled that “international human rights bodies consider the passing of prison sentences for violations of press laws as disproportionate to the prejudice suffered by the victim.” Robert Ménard, the […]

(RSF/IFEX) – The following is a correction and information note from RSF: **Updates IFEX alert of 18 February 1999** Paris, 26 May 1999 Further to a thorough investigation by Journaliste en Danger, a Congolese press freedom organisation, we have received confirmation that Oscar Kangoa falsely identified himself as a journalist. This young man is imprisoned […]

(RSF/IFEX) – On 12 May 1999, Stéphane Kitutu O’Léontwa, director of the Union de la presse de République démocratique du Congo (Congolese Press Union, UPC), was released after having spent four days in solitary confinement at the judicial police offices in Kinshasa. The journalist had been arrested and held instead of the individuals in charge […]

(RSF/IFEX) – RSF is protesting the jailing of the Congo Press Union president. According to RSF’s information, Stéphane Kitutu O’Léontwa, president of the professional organisation Union de la presse du Congo (Congolese Press Union, UPC) and former president-general delegate of Radiotélévision congolaise (Congolese Radio-television, RTNC), was detained for questioning by police officers on 8 May […]

(RSF/IFEX) – On 5 May 1999, Gustave Kalenga, a journalist with “La Flamme du Congo” newspaper, was released from the Makala central prison. His release follows the withdrawal of a complaint filed by the company Minière de Bawanga. On 3 April, Kalenga, the newspaper’s editor-in-chief, had been sentenced to an eight-month prison sentence. The withdrawal […]

(WAN/IFEX) – The following is a WAN press release: **Updates IFEX alerts as noted in the text** Paris, 4 May 1999 For immediate release WAN Condemns Imprisonment of Journalists in DR Congo The World Association of Newspapers has condemned the imprisonment of three journalists in the Democratic Republic of Congo and said their trials had […]

(RSF/IFEX) – RSF is protesting the imprisonment of a journalist in Kinshasa. **Updates IFEX alert of 6 April 1999** According to RSF’s information, Gustave Kalenga, the editor-in-chief of the weekly “La Flamme du Congo”, was detained for questioning at his residence on the night of 25 to 26 April 1999. The next day, he was […]

(RSF/IFEX) – RSF is protesting the sentencing of two journalists to prison terms with no parole. According to RSF’s information, on 3 April 1999, Gustave Kalenga, editor-in-chief of the weekly “La Flamme du Congo”, and Kasonga Tshilunde, editor-in-chief of the newspaper “L’Eveil”, were sentenced by the Lagombe court (Kinshasa), respectively, to eight and ten month […]

(RSF/IFEX) – RSF is protesting the four-year prison sentence delivered by the Court of Military Order against a journalist, with no possibility of appeal or parole. **Updates IFEX alerts of 26 March, 25 March, 16 March, 15 March and 19 January 1999** According to RSF’s information, on 30 March 1999, Thierry Kyalumba, editor-in-chief of the […]

(CPJ/IFEX) – CPJ is expressing its deep concern over the continued detentions of four journalists – Thierry Kyalumba, André Ipakala, and Modeste Muntinga, editors for the private newspapers “Vision”, “La Référence Plus” and “Le Potentiel”, respectively, and Mbakulu Pambu Diambu, president of the local chapter of the Congolese Press Union and broadcaster for the private […]