In a disconcerting turn of events in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), a prosecutor has requested a 20-year prison sentence for journalist Stanis Bujakera. Bujakera, a reporter for Jeune Afrique and Reuters, is currently on trial for an article he wrote that implicated military intelligence in the death of opposition politician, Chérubin Okende.
Bujakera was arrested last year on September 8, and is facing charges that include spreading false information. The arrest and trial were prompted by a report by Bujakera in Jeune Afrique. This report refuted the government’s declaration that Okende’s death was a suicide, instead suggesting the possibility of murder. Additionally, the report disclosed a confidential note from the internal security department of the National Intelligence Agency to its general administrator.
Spreading intentionally false news that could disturb peace is prohibited under Article 211 of the DR Congo Penal Code. Furthermore, an amendment to the media law last year enables authorities to imprison journalists for electronically circulating “false” information. Article 360 of the new Digital code imposes one- to six-month imprisonment and a fine for disseminating false data against a person through social networks.
In response to the prosecutor’s request, various human rights groups like Reporters Without Borders and Amnesty International have urged the government to immediately release Bujakera without condition. Jeune Afrique has also publicly posted a video on x (previously Twitter), asking for Bujakera’s urgent release.
In a statement from Amnesty International regarding Bujakera’s arrest, Deputy Regional Director Sarah Jackson stated: “The release of Stanis Bujakera is long overdue. His prolonged arbitrary detention is tantamount to judicial harassment, aimed at sending a chilling message to other journalists and all free voices in the DRC. This inconsistency must end. DRC authorities should immediately release Stanis Bujakera. President Tshisekedi and his government must guarantee the release of Stanis Bujakera and media freedom, uphold the country’s international human rights commitments, and recognize the flaws in the judiciary that lead to such injustices too often.”