United States Deputy Secretary of State for African Affairs Molly Phee has expressed her concern over the continued and unjust detention of journalist Stanis Bujakera by authorities in the DR Congo.
Phee who met DRC’s Minister of Communications Patrick Muyaya in New York on Wednesday, advised the Congolese government to uphold respect for human rights and freedom of expression as prerequisites for democracy.
“Freedom of expression is an essential component of a free, fair and democratic process. I note with concern the detention of journalist Stanis Bujakera,” Phee wrote on her X account (formerly Twitter).
Meanwhile, Phee also added that she had also held engaged Minister Muyaya on different issues including the upcoming elections, the humanitarian situation in the eastern territory of the country and freedom of expression in the DRC.
The US were among the first nations to express it’s concern over the arrest of Bujakera who remains in custody since 8th September, 2023 with a plethora of messages of solidarity continuing to pour for the detained journalist.
Bujakera since his arrest over two weeks ago has been put on a fifteen-day provisional arrest by the Congolese authorities who have accused him of spreading and disseminating false information relating to the assassination of former Transport Minister Cherubin Okende.
