Congo Journalist Detained for Report Related to Murder Probe
(Bloomberg) -- One of Democratic Republic of Congo’s most-prominent journalists was detained by police amid an investigation into the assassination of a top opposition politician, according to an association representing reporters for France’s Jeune Afrique.
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Stanis Bujakera, a Jeune Afrique correspondent, was arrested Friday at the airport in the capital, Kinshasa, and is accused of allegedly spreading false information about the killing of Cherubin Okende Senga in a story by the agency in August, the association said in its statement Monday on X, formerly known as Twitter. Police confiscated his phones and computer.
Prosecutors placed Bujakera under a provisional arrest warrant on Monday, according to Actualite.cd, where he is deputy publication director. Bujakera also contributes to Reuters.
Congo’s government didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
The British, US, Spanish, French, Belgian and Swiss embassies or ambassadors have released statements raising concerns about the detention, calling it an attack on press freedom.
Read More: Democratic Republic of Congo Expels Reuters Journalist
A resource-rich country, Africa’s second largest by landmass, Congo is scheduled to hold elections in December.
(Adds provisional arrest warrant in third paragraph)
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