In the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a group of journalists who fled the advance of the M23 rebels, living in Goma, denounce the repetitive attacks against them by armed men.
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With our correspondent in Goma, Heir Baraka
The capital of North Kivu is experiencing large-scale crime characterized by daily killings, an alert which comes as the work of journalists is increasingly threatened in the context of the war between the M23 rebels supported by Rwanda and the FARDC supported by the allies.
The “knights of the pen”
In Goma, they are called “knights of the pen”. These are journalists who had to flee the territories of Masisi, Rutshuru, Lubero and Walikale. There are more than eighty of them and they are campaigning to ensure their protection.
Justin Bin Serushago, coordinator of this group of journalists, deplores the fact that attacks are not investigated by the security services, even though complaints are regularly filed,
“ We have already suffered twelve cases of threats or attacks as well as looting of our reporting equipmenthe said. Most of the time, this happens when we return from our home editorial offices. The authorities should make more efforts to, in any case, secure us because we cannot leave our areas. Thinking of being in a secure city and suddenly being the target of acts of aggression and looting is not normal, it must stop », he calls.
On Wednesday, in a press release, Reporter Without Borders (RSF) condemned the assassination of Yoshua Kambere Machozi, host of the community radio station in Mpety, in Walikale territory, who was found dead on November 6, eight days after his arrest by the M23.
Four community radio stations attacked
Since the rebel offensives, at least four community radio stations have been attacked and looted by unidentified armed men in areas occupied by the M23.
Also readDRC: in North Kivu, the territory of Walikale threatened by the advance of M23 rebels