DRC: Radio host suspended by provincial minister

August 4th, 2011

The provincial minister responsible for information and media in Nord-Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo, has suspended a Mishapi Voice TV radio host until further notice. In a 30 July letter to the station’s CEO, Naason Kubuya Ndoole accused Jacques “Djasadjasa” Nyamugenda of “defamatory and insulting comments about the local authorities.” He claimed that, during broadcasts on the evening of 29 July, Nyamugenda insulted a provincial minister “whose conduct is irreproachable.” Ndoole did not, however, give details of the offending comments or name the minister he believed had been defamed. In the same letter, he asked Mishapi Voice TV’s chief to “initiate disciplinary action against this programme host as soon as you receive this letter”, adding that Nyamugenda “is not permitted to work for any other broadcaster in this province until further notice.”

DRC: Police on trial for activist’s murder

November 15th, 2010

Eight police officers have gone on trial in a Kinshasa military court charged with the kidnap and murder of a human rights activist. Three of the accused are on the run and are being tried in absentia. Floribert Chebeya went missing in June after trying to meet chief of police General John Numbi. His body was found soon after in the back seat of his car. Chebeya was the head of Voice of the Voiceless (VSV). VSV says that General Numbi is the chief suspect but, although he has been suspended, he is not facing any charges.