Fatshimetrie is the mirror of society, reflecting the realities and challenges of our time. When freedom of the press is threatened and journalists are murdered for simply exercising their duty to inform, democracy as a whole is in danger. The recent exchange organized by Grâce Israëlla Mambu Kangundu Ngyke, President of the Congolese Association of Women Journalists of the Written Press (ACOFEPE), with students from the University of Mbandaka, resonates as a vibrant call to collective memory and action.
This meeting underlines the urgency of recognizing these fallen journalists as Martyrs of Press Freedom. The tribute paid to Soleil Balanga, a journalist murdered while working at Radio Communautaire de Monkoto, highlights the violence and risks that many media professionals face on a daily basis. It is a battle to ensure that their sacrifice is not forgotten, to ensure that their memory is honoured and to ensure that justice is done to their families.
Grâce Israëlla NGYKE’s voice resonates with particular strength, carried by the memory of her father, journalist Frank Ngyke Kangundu, who was assassinated 19 years ago without any light being shed on this crime. Her fight is for truth, recognition, but above all for the perpetuation of the legacy of these journalists who fell for freedom of expression. She highlights the absolute necessity of preserving democratic foundations, guaranteeing the protection of the media and journalists, and relentlessly pursuing those who seek to silence them through violence.
The event planned for the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists will be a moment of reflection and mobilization. It will be an opportunity to recall that freedom of expression and of the press are not privileges, but fundamental rights that guarantee the vitality and democratic health of a nation.
By honoring the memory of these courageous journalists, by fighting to keep their legacy alive in our societies, Grâce Israëlla Mambu Kangundu Ngyke and ACOFEPE are inscribing their action in line with the great struggles for freedom and justice. Their message resonates beyond borders, reminding everyone that the freedom to inform and be informed is an essential pillar of any democratic society.