Democratic Republic of Congo

(NDIMA/IFEX) – According to NDIMA, Michel Ladi Luya, editor of the Kinshasa daily “Le Palmares”, has been released after being detained for three days. Ladi Luya said his arrest, on 11 April 1998, was in connection with “Le Palmares”‘s publication last week of a “Message to the People” by opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi, who was […]

(HRW/IFEX) – As President Clinton recognizes the efforts of civil society in Africa, civil society activists in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are facing new attacks from their government. On April 2 1998, Human Rights Watch (HRW) charged that the Congolese authorities are cracking down on numerous independent voices–including journalists, academics, development experts, and […]

(RSF/IFEX) – According to RSF, on 25 February 1998, Modeste Mutinga, editor-in-chief of the newspaper “Le Potentiel”, was arrested by members of the National Information Agency. Mutinga was detained at the National Security Council (Conseil National de Securite) in Kinshasa. His arrest is linked to a 19 February article entitled “Kabila’s Kassai [inhabitants] sulk” (“Les […]

(RSF/IFEX) – According to information received by RSF, Bonsange Yema, editor of the newspaper “L’Alarme”, was arrested at his home on 7 February 1998. Yema is being detained at National Police Headquarters in Kinshasa. His arrest was in connection with the publication, in the 7 February 1998 edition of “L’Alarme”, of a press release demanding […]

(RSF/IFEX) – In an 8 July 1998 letter, RSF protested the occupation of the offices and printing house of the newspaper “Le Moniteur de l’Economie”, and the arrest of three of the printing house’s staff. According to RSF’s information, since the beginning of December 1997, the editorial offices and printing house of the privately-owned monthly […]

(RSF/IFEX) – On 22 December 1997, soldiers from the Democratic Republic of Congo army who were occupying, without explanation, the offices of the privately-owned newspaper “Elima” in Kinshasa since the beginning of November, ransacked the newspaper’s offices and its printing facilities. The soldiers then left the premises, taking with them the building’s doors and windows. […]

(RSF/IFEX) – On 6 December 1997, Pontien Tshisungu, a journalist with the broadcaster RTNC, was arrested and detained at Goma central prison. The arrest of Tshisungu is said to be linked to the disclosure of an attempted attack on Minister of the Interior Mwenze Kongolo during a trip by the minister to the Nord-Kivu region […]

(RSF/IFEX) – On 3 December 1997, Mossi Mwassi, radio correspondent in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for the Swahili-language service of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and Deutchwelle, was arrested at his home by the Rapid Intervention Police (PIR). No official explanation was given for the arrest of Mwassi. He is being detained in […]

(RSF/IFEX) – On 25 November 1997, ten journalists were assaulted by police in Kinshasa. Following a press conference given by Arthur Z’ahidi Ngoma, leader of a political movement who was arrested the same day, police entered a bar where they took the journalists who had just attended the press conference to military headquarters in Kinshasa. […]

(CCPJ/IFEX) – CCPJ has learned that, on 19 November 1997, Polydor Muboyayi Mubanga, the editor-in-chief of the newspaper “Le Phare” who was detained on 8 September, was released. **Updates IFEX alerts of 23 and 9 September 1997**

Michel Luya, publisher of the opposition newspaper “Le Palmares”, was arrested at his home on 17 September 1995 and handed over to the court. He could face one to twelve months’ imprisonment. And, on 18 September, Minister of Information and the Press Boguo Makeli ordered “Le Palmares” suspended indefinitely. These actions follow the paper’s publication […]

Adrian de Mun, a French freelance journalist based in Rwanda and working for Radio France International and several other radio stations, was arrested in the Goma region of Zaire earlier this week. De Mun was transferred to the Zairian capital, Kinshasa, on Thursday 23 May 1996. The charges against him are still not known. The […]