DR Congo: CPJ Calls for Release of Journalist Prosecuted Over X Post

Kinshasa — The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on authorities in southeast Democratic Republic of the Congo to immediately release journalist Trésor Muntu, who was detained on Tuesday after sharing another journalist's post that criticized a politician. "DRC authorities must free Trésor Muntu and refrain from weaponizing the justice system to intimidate journalists," said CPJ Africa Director Angela Quintal. "This latest detention illustrates the urgent need to end authorities' use of criminal defamation to silence critical reporting," On September 15, about 12 plainclothes officers with an arrest warrant detained Muntu, director general of Centrale Radio Télévision, in the eastern city of Likasi in Haut-Katanga Province, as he was preparing to present the morning news, Lampadaire Média reported and local journalist Clarisse Kisanga told CPJ. Muntu was initially taken to Likasi police station and then the prosecutor's holding cell in Lubumbashi, a city about 125 kilometers southeast, Kisanga said. Follow us on WhatsApp | LinkedIn for the latest headlines On September 15, Muntu was heard by the public prosecutor's office and charged with defamation and publishing false news, and on September 16 he was taken to Lubumbashi's Kasapa Central Prison, the journalist's lawyer Jean Kizumba told CPJ. If found guilty, Muntu could face up to five years in prison. The case stems from a complaint by Lilianne Komba Maka, vice-president of Haut-Katanga provincial assembly, after Muntu shared a post on five WhatsApp groups, Kizumba said. The post, by Kinshasa-based journalist Patrick Lokala, accused Komba of using her influence to shield her sister in a land dispute. Komba and Haut-Katanga government spokesperson Max Mpande Kisimba did not answer CPJ's calls to request comment. Read the original article on CPJ . AllAfrica publishes around 600 reports a day from more than 90 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals , representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica . To address comments or complaints, please Contact us . AllAfrica is a voice of, by and about Africa - aggregating, producing and distributing 600 news and information items daily from over 90 African news organizations and our own reporters to an African and global public. We operate from Cape Town, Dakar, Abuja, Johannesburg, Nairobi and Washington DC. Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy . We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later.