Reporters Without Borders (RSF) calls on the authorities in Kasaï-Oriental province, in the southeast of the Democratic Republic of Congo, to drop all charges against Faustin Mbiya, a radio journalist who was held arbitrarily for three days for violating Covid-19 lockdown measures. Journalism is an essential activity during a crisis, RSF said.
The programme director of Fondation Daniel Madimba, a radio station based in Mbuji-Mayi, the provincial capital, Faustin Mbiya was arrested on 9 May on his return from producing a broadcast in Tshilenge, 25 km to the east. He was freed on bail of 300,000 Congolese francs (160 euros) on 12 May pending trial on charges of "violating emergency health measures" and "insulting the provincial authorities."
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