NGO protests detention of two foreign journalists

In a letter addressed to interior minister Mira Ndjoku of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), international freedom of the press NGO Reporters sans frontieres (RSF) on Friday protested the detention in Kinshasa on Tuesday of foreign journalists Arnaud Zajtman and Soyang Park by Congolese authorities as they tried to cover an opposition political press conference. “We implore you to not obstruct the work of the foreign press in your country,” said Robert Menard, secretary-general of the organisation. “Despite actions taken by the head of state in favour of greater freedom of the press, it should be noted that the DRC remains one of the most repressive countries on the African continent with regard to journalists. Since the beginning of the year, mistreatment of media professionals have multiplied with 38 cases of attacks against the press having occurred.” RSF also took the opportunity to recall that Freddy Loseke Lisumbu, director of La Libre Afrique newspaper, has been imprisoned since 30 May on charges of slandering a clergyman. Loseke previously spent 369 days in detention on charges of having slandered the DRC army until he was pardoned on 4 January 2001 by then-president Laurent-Desire Kabila.