Congolese journalist charged with weapons possession, armed theft after vital radio commentary

Dakar, April 28, 2022 — Congolese authorities ought to drop their prosecution of journalist Sébastien Mulamba, cease harassing him, and examine the raid on his residence, the Committee to Venture Journalists stated Thursday.

At round 3 a.m. on April 21, police arrested Mulamba, a journalist and director of the privately owned Kisangani Information, at his residence in Kisangani, the capital of the northern Tshopo province, in accordance with press studies and the journalist, who spoke to CPJ by cellphone. Mulamba additionally seems as a visitor commentator on native radio applications, in accordance with these sources.

Mulamba and Ernest Mukula, a consultant of the Nationwide Union of Congolese Press in Kisangani, each informed CPJ that they imagine the arrest is in retaliation for Mulamba’s visitor commentary on the “Orient Hebo” program, broadcast by Radio Flamboyant Orient at Kisangani College. Throughout this system, Mulamba repeatedly criticized the governor of the Tshopo province, Abibu Sakapela, the journalist informed CPJ, with out giving additional particulars.

“Congolese authorities ought to drop the fees in opposition to Sébastien Mulamba and totally examine the violent raid on his residence,” stated Angela Quintal, CPJ’s Africa program coordinator, from New York. “Journalists within the Democratic Republic of the Congo are too typically subjected to violent harassment and detention.”

The unknown variety of uniformed officers who arrested Mulamba on April 21 wore hoods that lined their faces, pressured their method into the house, broke doorways and home windows, and fired pictures into the air, Mulamba informed CPJ. After having access to the house, officers tied Mulamba’s palms, took his cellphone, and refused to elucidate the rationale for the arrest, the journalist informed CPJ. “They [the police] discovered me in entrance of my youngsters and tied me up with out telling me why,” Mulamba stated.

The officers then took Mulamba to the native police station and held him for six hours, he informed CPJ. Police launched him together with his cellphone and charged him with unlawful possession of weapons, felony affiliation, and armed theft. The contents of Mulamba’s cellphone had been deleted, he stated.

The police informed Mulamba to be able to return in the event that they referred to as, he stated. A courtroom date has not been scheduled and if convicted, Mulamba faces the loss of life penalty, in accordance with Articles 85 and 150 of the penal code. Mulamba denied the fees, telling CPJ that they’re unfounded.

CPJ’s calls to Sakapela rang unanswered. Messages for remark despatched through messaging app to Sakapela and Kazingu Voda, a Kisangani police spokesperson, have been marked as “learn,” however acquired no response.