Democratic Republic of the Congo / Africa

  
Journalist Gauthier Sey Tshiang discusses musician Fally Ipupa's defamation case against journalist Virginie Manganga on October 1.

Spate of attacks on DRC press include journalist threatened over Fally Ipupa controversy

Investigative journalist Gauthier Sey Tshiang was evacuated to France on Monday for medical treatment after being assaulted and left unconscious in a street — one of a series of attacks on the press in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in recent weeks. Another journalist has been missing for a month and two are behind…

Read More ›

Congolese music journalist Virginie Manganga

DRC journalist arrested on allegations of defaming musician Fally Ipupa

Kinshasa, September 23, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists urges authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to immediately release music journalist Virginie Manganga, who was arrested on Sunday for her interview with a woman who alleged that she had an affair with musician Fally Ipupa. “DRC authorities must immediately and unconditionally release journalist Virginie…

Read More ›

Trésor Muntu, director general of Centrale Radio Télévision.

DRC journalist detained, prosecuted for sharing X post on WhatsApp

Kinshasa, September 17, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on authorities in southeast Democratic Republic of the Congo to immediately release journalist Trésor Muntu, who was detained on Tuesday after sharing another journalist’s post that criticized a politician. “DRC authorities must free Trésor Muntu and refrain from weaponizing the justice system to intimidate journalists,” said…

Read More ›

M23 rebel soldiers

In rebel-controlled eastern DRC, political coverage banned, journalist Claude Kashonga suspended 

Kinshasa, August 25, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on rebel authorities controlling part of the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo to lift the restrictions that prohibit media outlets in South Kivu province from broadcasting or publishing political content. Local regulatory authorities should also reverse their decision to suspend a Bukavu FM political program…

Read More ›

Displaced man in Democratic Republic of Congo

DRC shutdown of internet, mobile networks in east extends for over a month amid war

Kinshasa, August 17, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to restore mobile telecommunications and internet services that have been cut off for more than a month in the Fizi Territory, which includes the city of Baraka, in the eastern province of South Kivu. “The intensification of…

Read More ›

DRC journalist John Zihindula Bwirabwanda in exile in Uganda

Armed men threaten, rob exiled DRC journalist in Uganda

Kinshasa, August 6, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Ugandan authorities to ensure the safety of exiled Congolese journalist John Zihindula Bwirabwanda, whose Ugandan home was broken into by armed men who threatened to kill him for posting news on social media. “It is shocking that Congolese journalist John Zihindula Bwirabwanda has been unable…

Read More ›

A displaced Congolese man listens to the radio outside his shelter in Fizi territory of South Kivu province in January.

In eastern DRC, journalists face death, arson threats for reporting on war

Government-allied Wazalendo militiamen have threatened to kill or capture one reporter and to burn down another’s radio station because of unfavorable coverage, as frontlines shift under diplomatic pressure for peace in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Rwanda-backed M23 and Congo River Alliance (AFC) rebels — who made unprecedented territorial gains in early 2025…

Read More ›

Government soldiers patrol a road in Fizi Territory in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo in January 2026.

Drones strike radio station in rebel-held DRC, with threat to kill next time

The eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo has joined a growing number of conflicts where drones are being used to target journalists, as two strikes hit a community radio station, followed by calls and messages threatening further attacks over its reporting on militia abuses. The bombing of Radio Tuungane in South Kivu province’s rebel-controlled Minembwe…

Read More ›

Reporters Stéphane Shisso (left) and Guelord Shamba

DRC journalist detained since January, another in hiding after mining impact report

Kinshasa, May 13, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to release journalist Stéphane Shisso, who was arrested in January after reporting on erosion caused by mining, and to ensure the safety of his colleague Guelord Shamba, who is in hiding. “It is a grave injustice that…

Read More ›

Congolese journalist Espoir Mbata

M23 rebels detain DRC journalist Espoir Mbata over WhatsApp post

Kinshasa, April 1, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls for the release of Congolese community radio director Espoir Mbata, who was detained by M23 rebels on Sunday over his WhatsApp post about their potential withdrawal from an eastern town.   “Working conditions have becoming increasingly hazardous for journalists in the eastern Democratic Republic of the…

Read More ›