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August 5, 2025 – DR Congo –
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has called on authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to reverse the suspension of Radio Nsenda Muana, a privately owned station in Mwene‑Ditu, and to release three journalists who were arrested during the crackdown. The station was shut down under a July 29 order from Mwene‑Ditu’s mayor, Gérard Tshibanda Kabue, who accused the outlet of inciting tribal hatred and encouraging tax evasion. CPJ reviewed the suspension directive and warned it constitutes an unacceptable suppression of media freedom.
On July 31, local officials and police executed the ban by locking the station’s doors and detaining three staffers: program director Ally Clovis Kaseba and reporters Prince Lulamba and Albin Mukadi. They were held at a local police station until August 4, when the provincial governor ordered their release. Despite the journalists’ freedom, the station remains closed. Kaseba was hospitalized after suffering a severe hypertension episode during his detention.
CPJ Regional Director Angela Quintal condemned the actions, stating that penalising journalists for critical coverage undermines public discourse. She emphasised that radio broadcasters play a critical role in serving communities by airing listener grievances and holding authorities accountable. Quintal urged the government to restore Radio Nsenda Muana’s license and end the criminalization of press criticism.
Separately, press freedom advocates, including the National Press Union of Congo and the regulatory Higher Council of Audiovisual and Communication, denounced the suspension as illegal. They demanded a reversal of the order and threatened to cease coverage of Mayor Tshibanda’s office if the closure is maintained.
The incident is part of a broader pattern in which journalists in the DRC face escalating harassment, from arbitrary arrest to legal intimidation—especially when covering local governance or controversial public issues. Observers warn that the suspension reinforces a chilling environment where officials misuse authority to silence independent media.
Media rights groups are pressuring international bodies and local stakeholders to intervene. They call for a full investigative review, reinstatement of the station, and systemic safeguards for journalists working in provinces where dissent is viewed unfavourably. Without swift action, they argue, the DRC’s democratic space for journalism will continue to shrink.
References –
https://cpj.org/2025/08/in-drc-radio-nsenda-muana-suspended-3-journalists-detained/
