A prominent journalist in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Stanis Bujakera, was sentenced to six months in prison on Monday. The 33-year-old reporter has been behind bars since September after an article in Jeune Afrique magazine implicated military intelligence in the murder of opposition politician Cherubin Okende.
Bujakera was found guilty of forgery and spreading false information. The charges stemmed from an unsigned article based on a purportedly confidential memo suggesting military involvement in Okende’s death. Congolese authorities maintain the memo is fabricated. The court imposed a six-month sentence and a fine of one million Congolese francs (around $400). Notably, prosecutors had initially sought a harsher 20-year sentence.
Okende, a former minister and opposition party spokesperson, vanished in July 2023. His body, riddled with bullets, was discovered in his car the following day. Authorities claim an autopsy concluded Okende died by suicide, a finding disputed by his party.
This case unfolds against a backdrop of heightened political tension in the DRC. The country gears up for presidential and parliamentary elections in December 2024, with incumbent leader Felix Tshisekedi seeking re-election. Bujakera’s imprisonment raises concerns about press freedom in the DRC, particularly regarding coverage of sensitive political matters.
