Congolese journalists meet with the Minister of Communication and Media to discuss the detention of journalist Stanis Bujakera
A delegation from the Congolese journalists’ corporation recently went to the office of the Minister of Communication and Media, Patrick Muyaya Katembwe, to address the worrying situation of Congolese journalist Stanis Bujakera. Indeed, the latter is currently detained in the premises of the Kinshasa provincial police station since September 8, 2023.
During this meeting, the delegation, made up of representatives of the National Union of the Congolese Press, the national association of publishers of Congo and other journalistic structures, expressed its sadness at the arrest of Stanis Bujakera. They called on the Minister to do everything possible to secure his release.
The Minister assured the delegation that he would closely follow the case, while emphasizing that the matter fell within judicial jurisdiction. He also stressed the importance of preserving press freedom as a constitutional right.
The main demand of the delegation was the immediate release of Bujakera. They insisted that if charges were brought against him, he must appear as a free man. The delegation stressed the importance of respecting the right to information, which is an essential constitutional principle.
This meeting between the delegation of Congolese journalists and the Minister of Communication and Media highlights the need to preserve press freedom and guarantee the safety of journalists in the exercise of their work in the Democratic Republic of Congo. A freedom of the press which constitutes an essential pillar of any democracy and which must be protected by all actors in society.
In conclusion, this meeting underlines the importance of solidarity and mobilization of the corporation of Congolese journalists to defend the rights and freedom of their colleagues. The world of information and journalism must remain vigilant so that the voices of journalists can be heard freely, without hindrance or repression.