For four months, the deputy publication director of the news site Actualite.cd and correspondent for Young Africa and Reuters is languishing in a cell in Makala prison, in Kinshasa, following the publication of an article by the editorial staff of Young Africa implicating Congolese military intelligence in the assassination of a former minister turned opponent, Chérubin Okende, in July 2023. A collective of journalists, human rights defenders and intellectuals signed a forum to demand his release, then that the affair has just experienced a new twist.
2 mins
Stanis Bujakera was arrested on September 8, 2023 in Kinshasa. He is accused of having fabricated a “document” attributed to the National Intelligence Agency (ANR). This document is the origin of an article of Young Africa unsigned by Stanis Bujakera, dealing with the alleged circumstances of the death of MP Cherubin Okende.
“ Stands Bujakera pays too much to be a competent, professional journalist », indignant the researcher and UN expert Alioune Tine, who signed the article. “ He must be released immediately, without conditions », insists the director of the West African think tank Africajom Center. “ We also believe that the authorities must also respect freedom of the press and expression, which are fundamental in any self-respecting democracy. »
“ This is entirely symptomatic of the shrinking civic space that we see in most African countries, worries Alioune Tine. These are major trends. It’s worrying, worrying. African opinion must react, protest and support all journalists who, like Bujakera, are in detention simply for having done their job professionally. »
New twist
For its part, the affair has just experienced a new twist. Two months after his appointment by the court, the expert responsible for carrying out a second opinion required by the defense wrote to the judges on Thursday, indicating that he is not able to fulfill the tasks assigned to him. assigned. The expert’s mission was to verify the authenticity of the note attributed to the ANR and to re-examine the conclusions of the prosecution. He explained that he no longer has the adequate equipment to carry out his mission.
“ The argument goes that his machines were burned and he was in the process of acquiring more, which would take him a long timeexplains Me Jean-Marie Kabengela, lawyer for Stanis Bujakera. We think that he does not have the required expertise because he is only an expert in IT tools. While for the question asked, you must be an expert in telecommunications networks. »
Me Jean-Marie Kabengela, lawyer for Stanis Bujakera