Journalist Chilassy Bofumbo (middle) stands with pals following his launch and acquittal on July 5, 2022. His blouse has a photo of his face and says in French, "Free Chilassy Bofumbo. Journalism isn't always a crime." (Credit: Arnold Mawango)
A choose on the High Court in Mbandaka, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s western Équateur province, on Tuesday acquitted and launched journalist Chilassy Bofumbo, who have been jailed seeing that he blanketed a November 2021 protest, in step with the journalist, who spoke to CPJ through messaging app and tweeted his launch.
Two different newshounds — Patrick Lola and Christian Bofaya — stay jailed withinside the critical jail of Mbandaka, the capital of Équateur province, in step with their lawyer, Pontife Ikolombe, who spoke to CPJ through phone.
“The acquittal of journalist Chilassy Bofumbo is welcome information, even though he ought to by no means had been arrested or detained for over seven months,” stated Angela Quintal, CPJ’s Africa software coordinator, from Durban. “Authorities withinside the DRC ought to unexpectedly and unconditionally launch newshounds Patrick Lola and Christian Bofaya, who've spent almost six months in the back of bars. Press freedom stays on trial withinside the DRC.”
Bofumbo is editor-in-leader of nearby broadcaster Radio Télévision Sarah, a correspondent for the Flash Info Plus information internet site and Radio l’Essentiel on-line broadcaster, and a coordinator for FILIMBI, a nongovernmental enterprise that promotes civil participation amongst Congolese youth, in step with CPJ research. On June 28, 2022, the prosecutor known as for Bofumbo to be imprisoned for 3 years and fined, in step with media reports.
Freelance reporter Lola and Bofaya, a reporter for privately owned E Radio, had been held seeing that January 10 over protest coverage. Their case stays below attention of the national-stage Court of Cassation in DRC’s capital Kinshasa, as CPJ documented.
blogpay
Total Comments: 0