The Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) has issued a sweeping ban on media outlets from reporting on former President Joseph Kabila and interviewing members of his political party. This decision, announced by the country’s media regulator the Supreme Council of Audiovisual and Communication (CSAC) comes amid escalating tensions between Kabila and the current government led by President Félix Tshisekedi.
Kabila, who governed the country from 2001 to 2019, returned to DR Congo last month, stirring political unrest. His return coincides with allegations that he has ties to the M23 rebel group, which has been engaged in violent clashes against the Congolese army, particularly in the eastern regions. The government is seeking to prosecute Kabila on charges of treason linked to the rebel insurgency, accusations that he has consistently denied.
Christian Bosembe, head of the CSAC, warned that any media outlets violating the ban risk suspension. This directive has been met with defiance in regions controlled by the M23 rebels, whose spokesperson declared that local media there would not adhere to the imposed restrictions.
Kabila himself has not publicly responded to the ban, but Ferdinand Kambere, secretary of Kabila’s party, condemned it as “arbitrary” on social media platform X. The former president was recently spotted in Goma, a key city in eastern DR Congo under M23 control, highlighting the deepening political divide.
Relations between DR Congo and its neighbor Rwanda have also come under scrutiny, with Kigali accused of supporting the M23 rebels a claim Rwanda denies.
Kabila has openly criticized the current government, branding it a “dictatorship” after the senate voted to lift his parliamentary immunity, allowing for legal action against him. Government officials dismissed Kabila’s remarks, asserting that he has “nothing to offer” the country.
Human rights advocate Jean-Claude Katende described the media ban as an “abuse of power,” expressing concern over the restriction of press freedom in an already fragile political climate.
This media clampdown underscores the volatile state of DR Congo’s political landscape and raises pressing questions about freedom of expression and the rule of law in the country.
