DRC: Security forces briefly detain two journalists in Kinshasa July 25

Event

Two French journalists from Agence France-Presse (AFP) were reportedly briefly detained by three men who presented themselves as agents of the Military Detection of Anti-National Activities service (DEMIAP), in Kinshasa on Tuesday, July 25. The journalists were conducting an interview on a doctor strike when intelligence officers reportedly took away their equipment and arrested them under the allegation that they were shooting footage aimed at “smearing the country.” Both journalists were released shortly after reportedly handing over XAF 15,000 (USD 10) to the officers.

Context

Aggressions against journalists, particularly from foreign media, are regular occurrences in the DRC, a country which ranked 154 out of 180 countries on the Reporters Without Borders press freedom index.

Advice

On a more general note, due to security concerns, many Western governments advise their citizens against all travel to the provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu (particularly outside the cities of Goma and Bukavu), as well to as the northeast portion of Eastern province and the northern part of Katanga, due to the presence of armed groups. Certain governments also advise against nonessential travel to the rest of the country.