On March 3, 2026, three people who said they were agents with the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s National Intelligence Agency (ANR) arrested Serge Sindani, a journalist and director of the privately owned site Kis24.info, in the northeastern city of Kisangani.
Sindani was arrested at the headquarters of the Special Fund for the Distribution of Compensation to Victims of Uganda’s Illicit Activities in the DRC (FRIVAO), where he also works, and taken to the local ANR office, according to news reports and a local journalist, who witnessed Sindani’s arrest, and spoke to CPJ on condition of anonymity, citing fear of reprisals.
Sindani was accused of being a spy for the M23, which is part of the Congo River Alliance (AFC) rebel coalition.
In early March, he published rebel statements claiming responsibility for a drone attack on Kisangani’s Bangoka International Airport. He also published a report saying U.S. sanctions against the Rwandan army and senior military officials were welcome, but he still placed responsibility for securing the country’s border on the Congolese state.
Steves Paluku Mbusa, the director of Kis24.info, told CPJ in the days after Sindani’s arrest that local authorities had prevented the journalist’s lawyers, family, and colleagues from assisting him.
“This situation raises serious concerns regarding his well-being, his conditions of detention, as well as the minimum guarantees linked to treatment in accordance with the law,” Mbusa said.
CPJ’s early March call to request comment from Paulin Lendongolia, governor of Tshopo province, which Kisangani is a part of, went unanswered.
Sindani was released on March 13.
Sindani was previously arrested in June 2025 by a military officer for posting a photo of combat aircraft at the airport.