A report by the Journalists In Danger (JED), an NGO championing press freedom in the DR Congo, reveals that five (5) journalists have lost their lives while over 500 have been victims of attacks under Republican President Fèlix Tshisekedi’s regime.
The JED’s annual report, entitled “The Report on Press Freedom under the First Mandate of President Félix Tshisekedi” has highlighted several serious violations of press freedom.
The report is set to be published this Thursday, 2 November at the commemoration of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Committed against Journalists.
In Tshisekedi’s first mandate, the JED Monitoring Service recorded at least 523 cases of attacks against members of the press including 5 journalists who lost their lives.
More than 160 journalists have been arrested while more than 130 other media professionals have been victims of threats or physical violence.
In addition, 123 media houses have suffered attacks, closed entirely or had their broadcasts banned during Tshisekedi’s mandate.
The report also highlights the tragic cases of journalists killed or missing, particularly in the eastern provinces of the DRC that are affected with violence by rebel groups.
At least 3 journalists were murdered in 2021, while one journalist remains missing since December 2020 after being kidnapped by militiamen.
