Highlights: The Superior Council of Audiovisual and Communication (CSAC) has issued a formal ban on press organizations and journalists. The ban prohibits them from covering or disseminating information concerning rebel groups without referring to official sources. Professional media associations are speaking out against what they consider to be an attempt to repress press freedom in the DRC. The CSAC refutes these accusations, affirming to act within the framework of its prerogatives and aiming for greater responsibility in the exercise of its functions.

The president of the Superior Council of Audiovisual and Communication (CSAC) has issued a formal ban on press organizations and journalists, prohibiting them from covering or broadcasting…

DRC: the media regulatory authority wants to channel coverage of the security situation

The president of the Superior Council of Audiovisual and Communication (CSAC) issued a formal ban on press organizations and journalists, prohibiting them from covering or disseminating information concerning rebel groups without referring to official sources. The profession is up in arms and worried.

The Minister of Communication and Media of the DRC and spokesperson for the Congolese government, Patrick Muyaya, during a press conference. © Pascal Mulegwa/RFI

By: RFI Follow

With our correspondent in Kinshasa,

Patient Ligodi

Faced with this new instruction, professional media associations are speaking out against what they consider to be an attempt to repress press freedom in the

DRC

. They denounce what they call “

subservience and lack of independence of the official regulatory body

”. They call for more determined action from Judith Suminwa, the new Prime Minister, to defend freedom of expression and guarantee journalistic independence.

For its part, the CSAC refutes these accusations, affirming to act within the framework of its prerogatives and aiming for greater responsibility in the exercise of its functions.

“

We just want the word to be said in more or less responsible conditions. Let the journalistic profession be carried out professionally, without slippage, without activism

,” explains Christian Bosembe, president of the regulatory institution. He also calls on officials to collaborate: “

We believe that, when there is a vacuum, journalists will often look for information elsewhere. Official sources must be able to provide, within a specific period, information so that journalists can easily manipulate, process and disseminate it.

As for professional media organizations, they do not seem convinced. They list a series of events and acts which, according to them, attempt to silence the media. They cite, for example,

the prolonged detention of journalist Stanis Bujakera

and the threats made by senior magistrates against journalists.

“

Today we want to denounce this political will of the press which in our opinion constitutes a major step backwards in terms of law and democracy in our country

,” indicates Tshivis Tshivuadi, secretary general of Journalist in Danger (JED).

These organizations say they remain mobilized on major issues affecting the press sector and in particular on the defense of press freedom during this five-year term.

DRC: the media regulatory authority wants to channel coverage of the security situation

DRC: the media regulatory authority wants to channel coverage of the security situation

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