The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes the Democratic Republic of the Congo's release of journalist Stanis Bujakera Tshiamala, but is alarmed by his six-month prison sentence and fine of 1 million Congolese francs (US$400) and the ongoing detention of journalist Blaise Mabala, who has been in custody since December.
Kinshasa — The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes the Democratic Republic of the Congo's release of journalist Stanis Bujakera Tshiamala, but is alarmed by his six-month prison sentence and fine of 1 million Congolese francs and the ongoing detention of journalist Blaise Mabala, who has been in custody since December.
"While it is good news that journalist Stanis Bujakera is no longer behind bars, his conviction and sentencing is alarming because it seeks to justify his months in detention and sends a frightening message to the broader media community. His case has been a heavy blow to press freedom in the DRC," said Angela Quintal, head of CPJ's Africa program.
DRC police arrested Bujakera in Kinshasa, the DRC's capital, on September 8, 2023, and authorities charged him with spreading falsehoods, forgery, use of forged documents, and distributing false documents under the combined application of the DRC's penal code and a new digital code and press law.
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