The defense of journalist Stanis Bujakera, correspondent for Jeune Afrique in Kinshasa and deputy publishing director of the online media Actualite.cd, filed a request requesting his provisional release. This request follows his arrest and preventive detention at the Kinshasa-Gombe High Court. Accused of spreading false rumors and false news, Stanis Bujakera says he is determined to continue his work professionally and without fear.
In her request, Stanis Bujakera’s lawyer stressed that freedom is the rule while detention is the exception. She also highlighted the fact that the journalist has a permanent job, no criminal record and that there is no risk of flight. His lawyer also affirmed that his file is empty and that the interrogations to which he was subjected aim to make him divulge his sources of information.
This arbitrary detention aroused the indignation of Reporters Without Borders (RSF), which calls for the immediate release of Stanis Bujakera. RSF stresses that his detention highlights the fragility of press freedom in the Democratic Republic of Congo and affirms that the journalist is not responsible for the content of the incriminated article, signed “the editorial staff”. RSF recalls that his arrest is political in nature.
Stanis Bujakera’s situation is symptomatic of the challenges journalists face in the online information age. Maintaining credibility, attracting readers and resisting political pressure is a real challenge for news professionals. Freedom of expression and the right to information are pillars of a democratic society, and it is essential to defend these fundamental rights.
We hope that justice will demonstrate impartiality and respect for human rights by releasing Stanis Bujakera. The mobilization of colleagues and human rights defenders demonstrates the importance of defending press freedom and supporting unjustly imprisoned journalists.