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July 28, 2025 – Congo –
In a disturbing incident highlighting press suppression in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, three journalists were assaulted and briefly detained while attempting to question a provincial minister about corruption allegations. The incident unfolded on July 28 in the province of Haut-Uélé, where the reporters tried to interview Minister Pascal Saveza regarding a series of complaints related to public contract mismanagement.
According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), when Saveza arrived at a public event in Watsa, the three journalists approached him to pose questions. Security personnel immediately intervened, physically removing one reporter and striking another in the head. Both were detained for several hours before being released. Their phones and recording equipment were confiscated. A third journalist, witnessing the events, was similarly manhandled and temporarily held.
CPJ has strongly condemned the assaults and called on Congolese authorities to protect journalists covering public affairs. The organization emphasized that questioning public officials is a core journalistic function and that the detentions and theft of equipment violate both press freedom norms and constitutional protections for freedom of expression.
Local media associations have echoed CPJ’s demands, calling for investigations into the security personnel responsible and restitution for the journalists affected. Human rights advocates warn that such actions deepen a climate of intimidation that discourages investigative reporting and undermines democratic accountability.
These events are part of a broader trend in the DRC, where journalists frequently face threats, arrests, and violence when reporting on government officials or corruption. In 2025 alone, multiple incidents have been documented across provinces where reporters were assaulted or detained during coverage of politically sensitive issues or protests.
As the journalists recover from their ordeal, CPJ insists authorities must return seized materials and hold perpetrators accountable. Further, the organization has urged training for officials on media rights and the enforcement of legal protections to prevent similar attacks.
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