The Superior Council for Audiovisual and Communication (CSAC) has taken the decision to reassess the measures taken against the television channel CML13TV and its guests. The television channel saw its suspension reduced from 45 to 30 days, while the host of the program “Libre Opinion” was hit with a 90-day suspension. The CSAC also decided to impose a 90-day embargo on media broadcasting in Kinshasa on MPs Daniel Safu and Mike Mukebayi, for their alleged desire to harm national cohesion.
These sanctions are the consequence of the broadcast of a show deemed “discouraging” by the CSAC. Administrative documents, the program schedule and the specifications were required before the channel was allowed to reconnect. Journalist Louis-France Kuzikeza was also suspended for 72 days from all media in the DRC, with the possibility of possible disciplinary action by the corporation of journalists.
This CSAC decision is the consequence of a media service considered to undermine the fundamental principles and rules of the journalistic profession. Guests Mike Mukebayi and Daniel Safu, meanwhile, were deemed to exhibit a “deliberate desire to jeopardize national cohesion”.
The Bureau of the CSAC called for the opening of disciplinary actions on the part of the parliamentary chambers concerned to discourage such delinquent behavior in the media.
Unfortunately, these are not the first sanctions imposed on the DRC for comments considered to incite hatred and violence. The Congolese government is trying to deal with these problems by laying the foundations for stricter media regulation in the territory.