Calvary of Journalism in DR Congo under Tshisekedi

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the regime that is led by a political party which stood against the regimes of Mobutu, Laurent Desire Kabila and Joseph Kabila, is now oppressing the people.

Since its inauguration in 2019, the regime of President Felix Tshisekedi is losing support daily among people and especially among its own members in the party. Many, Congolese believed that “Union pour la Democratie et le Progres Social” (UDPS), the party of the late Etienne Tshisekedi was prepared to take over for long years of dictatorial reigns since Mobutu.

Although the nomination of Felix Tshisekedi by Joseph Kabila as head of state after the controversial elections which normally was won by Martin Fayulu of the coalition “Lamuka’. The regime of Tshisekedi is now seen as the most corrupted and amateur conglomerate of friends who are looting public funds, natural resources and exploiting a tribal approach to dominate over other ethnicities.

Human rights activists and civil society organizations are decrying a total state of Enforced disappearances, and torture and other ill-treatment were widespread and systematic. Women and girls, LGBTI people, and ethnic and religious minorities were subjected to systemic discrimination and violence. Cruel and inhuman punishments, including flogging, were imposed and implemented. All those are happening in major cities including Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, Goma, Kikwit, Kisangani and Matadi.

The country is at war with several rebel groups in the eastern side but the regime is restricting freedom of expression about that topic. There is a large scale corruption system that consists of controlling the media and public entertainers to portray a positive image of regime officials.

Since the beginning of his second mandate this year, president Tshisekedi has done little if not nothing to address poverty, ever increasing prices, lack of proper environmental policies, municipal services are dead, crimes has risen to double digits, electricity and water are still a luxury in Kinshasa besides being nearly inexistent in all other cities. Amagep has a team right now in Kinshasa but the experience of professional journalists is very bad.

In Congo, journalists must be attached to the vision of public officials. There is a lack of support for independent journalism. While visiting facilities that are being manipulated for political propaganda, AMAGEP found that the central prison of Kinshasa “Makala” for example was built to accommodate 1500 prisoners. Right now, the prisons has more than 15000 incarcerated under inhuman conditions.

The regime is using the tactics of arrests for intimidation. In most cases, people are disappearing forever. In the first semester of 2024, one of Tshisekedi bodyguards was found dead. Following that, there are more than 15 people arrests without a proper judicial procedure. Their fate is still unknown. Arbitrary or unlawful detention occurs when an individual is arrested and detained by a government without due process and without the legal protections of a fair trial, or when an individual is detained without any legal basis for the deprivation of liberty. There are similar cases for members of opposition especially those who are on the side of Fayulu and Dr Mukwege.

AMAGEP is alerting the international community about what is in reality the set of tears and Calvary of Congolese people under this regime. Journalist in Congo is afraid to say it loud.