Congo Kinshasa Politics | Human rights | Society | Media
RSF condemns suspension of local station in DRCafrol News, 11 May - Reporters Without Borders have condemned the suspension of local transmission of the French public radio station, Radio France Internationale (RFI), in the north-eastern city of Bunia by the Congolese government.According to a letter addressed to the Communications and Media Minister, Lambert Mendé, the Reporters Without Borders raised concerns that the recent closure of the station could also be extended throughout the country.
The letter called on the minister to restore RFI's broadcasts in Bunia and also to ensure press freedom by publicly announcing the legitimacy of the international media presence in Democratic Republic of Congo.
“You should be aware that a media presence in areas that are unstable or experiencing an armed conflict is necessary so that all the actors can have adequate access to news and information,” the letter said.
The minister has accused RFI of trying to provoke mutinies within the armed forces and to create inter-ethnic conflicts in areas where the government is working hard to end the conflict in the country.
“When you incite soldiers on pacification operations to mutiny, you are aiming to destroy the country and this has nothing to do with journalism. If it proves absolutely necessary to cut the transmission of certain media, we will do it,” the minister said.
However, the RFI management in Paris denied that the station's coverage of the DRC was in any way biased. The Congolese government has for years been criticising RFI's reporting and deported a visiting RFI reporter, Ghislaine Dupont, on 3 July 2006, when she was in Kinshasa to cover the presidential election.
The RFI's transmissions in Bunia, the capital of Ituri district, was cut on 2 May 2009.
In the recent development hampering the freedom of expression, the Rwandan government also banned the BBC Kinyarwanda programming for allegedly being bias and airing programmes that are devastating the country's efforts for reconstruction and reconciliation. By staff writer © afrol News - Create an e-mail alert for Congo Kinshasa news - Create an e-mail alert for Politics news - Create an e-mail alert for Human rights news - Create an e-mail alert for Society news - Create an e-mail alert for Media news
On the Afrol News front page now
Central African Republic falling apart
afrol News - One month after the rebel movement Séléka took over power in the Central African Republic, unrest is spreading in the country. The new leader lacks control of his forces, which continue looting and abusing civilians.
|
Kenyatta secures tight victory in Kenya
afrol News - The official election results in Kenya have finally been announced, and Uhuru Kenyatta managed to win the first poll round outright with a narrow 50.7 percent. But the main opponent, PM Raila Odinga, is filing a vote rigging complaint to the courts.
|
Cape Verde Cape Verde to produce dragon fruit
afrol News - Cape Verde authorities have invested large sums to diversify the arid country's agricultural sector. Now, the dragon fruit, originating in tropical America, is being introduced for the first commercial production in Africa.
|
|