The portrait of Stanis Bujakera, the Congolese journalist detained for more than two months, reflects a serious attack on freedom of expression in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Correspondent for Jeune Afrique and the Reuters news agency, Bujakera is also deputy publishing director of Actualité.cd, the main independent media and Congolese partner of the international investigative consortium Congo Hold-Up.
His arrest and detention sparked a wave of indignation across the country and on the African continent. Indeed, since the coming to power of Félix Tshisekedi, son of the historic opponent, the president had promised to put an end to the repressive practices of the past. However, with the imprisonment of Bujakera, we are witnessing a questioning of this promise and a return to the repression of dissenting voices.
The accusations against Bujakera are very controversial. He is accused of having fabricated a false document from the intelligence services of the National Intelligence Agency and of having distributed it via Telegram then WhatsApp. However, a careful investigation carried out by Actualité.cd, Jeune Afrique and the Congo Hold-Up consortium demonstrated that these assertions are unfounded.
Indeed, the Congolese prosecution claims to have identified Bujakera as the first issuer of the document thanks to an analysis of metadata and an IP address. However, Telegram, the messaging platform used, formally denies the possibility of identifying IP addresses from shared messages. Furthermore, the technical expertise provided by the Congolese police lacks concrete evidence and is based on questionable elements.
Bujakera’s case highlights the challenges faced by journalists in the DRC. Press freedom is still fragile in this country where dissenting voices are often repressed and independent media face numerous pressures. It is essential to support and protect journalists who dare to denounce abuses of power and defend the rights of citizens.
In a context where freedom of expression is under attack, it is imperative to fight for respect for fundamental rights and the strengthening of democracy in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The release of Stanis Bujakera and the guarantee of his security are crucial issues for the preservation of freedom of expression and the defense of democratic values in the country. The entire international community must mobilize to demand his immediate and unconditional release.