A Congolese journalist, Sébastien Mulamba, who is known for his criticism of the government, has been arrested and faces charges bordering on armed robbery, weapons possession and criminal association.
A media rights watchdog, Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), reported on Thursday that Mulamba, a private journalist and director of the independently owned Kisangani News, was arrested on April 21 at his home following his critical comments about the province’s governor on a radio programme.
While calling on the Congolese authorities to release Mulamba, drop the charges and stop harassing him, the CPJ also called for an investigation into the raid on his home.
Narrating the circumstances surrounding the arrest of Mulamba, Angela Quintal, CPJ’s Africa program coordinator, said:
“At around 3 a.m. on April 21, police arrested Mulamba, a journalist and director of the privately owned Kisangani News, at his home in Kisangani, the capital of the northern Tshopo province, after he appeared as a guest commentator on local radio programs.
“Mulamba and Ernest Mukula, a representative of the National Union of Congolese Press in Kisangani, both told CPJ that they believe the arrest is in retaliation for Mulamba’s guest commentary on the “Orient Hebo” program, broadcast by Radio Flamboyant Orient at Kisangani University.
“During the program, Mulamba repeatedly criticized the governor of the Tshopo province, Abibu Sakapela.
“Congolese authorities should drop the charges against Sébastien Mulamba and thoroughly investigate the violent raid on his home.
“Journalists in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are too often subjected to violent harassment and detention,” Quintal said.
A court date has not been scheduled for the journalist but according to Articles 85 and 150 of the Congolese penal code, if convicted, Mulamba faces the death penalty.