The correspondent for Jeune Afrique in Kinshasa will remain in detention at the central prison of Makala despite the promise of the Head of State, Félix Tshisekedi, during the special briefing held on February 22 by the government spokesperson, to get involved in this matter. During this briefing, Felix Tshisekedi had questioned the detention procedure of this media professional, casting doubt once again on the quality of the Congolese justice system.

“I believe he may be a victim of this ailing justice,” the President of the Republic declared regarding the prolonged detention of Stanis Bujakera. While reiterating his intention to not interfere in judicial matters, Félix Tshisekedi had, on that occasion, decided to “stick his nose in” to find out more the day following that briefing held last Thursday.

But only five days later, and despite the indignation of the supreme magistrate, the status quo seems to remain in the case of the journalist. All attempts to request provisional release made by the journalist's lawyers have been rejected by the justice system. The most recent one was the seventh.

Correspondent for Jeune Afrique in Kinshasa, Stanis Bujakera Tshiamala has been on trial since October 2023 for an article, not signed with his name, that implicated military intelligence in the murder of an opposition figure, the former Minister of Transport, Chérubin Okende Senga. The latter had been found dead, his body riddled with bullets, on July 13, 2023, on Poids Lourd Avenue, near the Gombe commune, in Kinshasa.

 Dido Nsapu