RSF and Journalism Groups Urge Urgent Protection for Journalists in Eastern DR Congo

December 12, 2025 – Congo –

Press-freedom organization Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has joined the Journalists in Danger (JED) network in issuing an urgent appeal for the protection of journalists in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), warning that media workers in the region face escalating threats amid renewed violence and instability.

According to RSF and JED, journalists operating in North Kivu and Ituri provinces are increasingly exposed to intimidation, attacks, and reprisals linked to their coverage of armed groups, military operations, and humanitarian crises. The organizations say reporters are being targeted by both state and non-state actors, including militias, local authorities, and security forces, creating an environment where independent journalism is becoming nearly impossible.

The joint statement highlights a pattern of threats, physical assaults, arbitrary arrests, and censorship directed at journalists who report on insecurity, displacement, and alleged abuses by armed actors. Several journalists have been forced into hiding or exile after receiving death threats, while others have stopped reporting on sensitive issues altogether due to fear for their safety.

RSF and JED stressed that journalists in eastern DRC play a critical role in documenting violence and informing local and international audiences about developments in a region plagued by decades of conflict. Silencing these voices, they warned, deepens impunity and leaves civilians without access to reliable information at a time of acute humanitarian need.

The groups called on Congolese authorities to take immediate steps to guarantee journalists’ safety, including publicly condemning attacks on the press, ensuring rapid investigations into threats and assaults, and holding perpetrators accountable regardless of affiliation. They also urged local officials and security forces to respect press freedom and refrain from obstructing journalistic work.

In addition, RSF and JED appealed to international actors — including the United Nations, regional bodies, and diplomatic partners — to increase pressure on Congolese authorities to uphold their obligations under international law. They emphasized that protecting journalists must be a central component of broader efforts to stabilize eastern DRC and address human-rights abuses.

The appeal comes as fighting intensifies in parts of eastern DRC, with civilians bearing the brunt of violence and displacement. For journalists working in these conditions, access to safety equipment, legal support, and emergency relocation remains limited.

RSF warned that without urgent protective measures, the risks to journalists will continue to grow, further shrinking the space for independent reporting. The organization concluded that safeguarding journalists in eastern DRC is not only a matter of press freedom, but a prerequisite for transparency, accountability, and the protection of civilians in one of Africa’s most volatile regions.

Reference – 

https://rsf.org/en/rsf-joins-jed-urgently-calling-protection-journalists-eastern-drc