In the space of two weeks, at least six cases of blatant attacks on freedom of information in DR Congo have been recorded in Kinshasa just as in the provinces, the statement revealed.
Among these victims, is found Simon Bofunga, director of Congo Nouveau, newspaper published in Kinshasa, who was arrested Wednesday, August 21, 2019 at the prosecutor's office at the Court of Appeal of Kinshasa / Gombe.
Raim Mayama, presenter journalist of the magazine "Masolo ya Congo", and collaborator with several media broadcasting in Kinshasa, arrested, Tuesday, August 20, 2019, successively to the criminal police and the prosecutor's office of Likasi, in the province of Katanga on the orders of Mr. Kambaj, Chief of Mines Office.
JED also mentions the case of Serge Sindani, journalist at Kis24. Info, an online media based in Kisangani in the province of Tshopo, which was violently beaten by a group of elements of the DR Congo Army Forces on 18 August 2019, while returning to home after covering the dedication cult of the province of Tshopo to God, organized by the new provincial governor.
Another case noted in this release is that Michel Tshiyoyo, director of Radio Sozer FM, a community station broadcasting in Kananga, held since Wednesday, August 14, 2019, in the facilities of the Kananga Peace Court on the orders of the provincial governor Mr. Martin Kabuya accusing him of inciting to hatred and insulting to provincial authority.
Frank Masunzu, a correspondent journalist for Radio Pol Fm in Masisi, a territory in Nord Kivu province, was brutally beaten on Thursday 1 August 2019 by DRC soldier.
JED strongly condemns the attacks on journalists, who must be able to carry out their work under the best conditions, especially at the dawn of this period of political change in the DRC which must mark a break with the methods and predatory practices of the former regime.
(CKS/Yes)