a young journalist at a local radio station in Rutshuru Territory

Cases
Location of case in SG report
2024-046-001
Relevant SG report
Year of the report
2024
Country Geolocation

Latitude: -4.038333

Longitude: 21.758664

Country Geolocation (linked Cases)
Congo, Democratic Republic of the
From Region
Type of record
Unnamed individual/group/organization
Gender
Male
Individual's/organization's activity

a young journalist at a local radio station in Rutshuru Territory, North Kivu Province, who had regularly shared information on developments in his locality with the UNJHRO.

Type of rights defended
  • Unclear in SG Report
Was the victim a civil servant or member of the security forces or of the judiciary?
No
Reported trigger of reprisal

regularly shared information on developments in his locality with the UNJHRO.

Engagement with UN body
  • UN Peace Operation / Political mission
Type of attempted engagement
  • Unclear
Dates of mentioned reprisals
May 2023, December 2023
Location of mentioned reprisals
Rutshuru Territory
Reprisal information

In a separate incident, M23 elements began harassing a young journalist at a local radio station in Rutshuru Territory, North Kivu Province, who had regularly shared information on developments in his locality with the UNJHRO. M23 harassed him for suspected close ties with the DRC government and for sharing information on the M23 actions to United Nations “human rights”. In May 2023, M23 elements came looking for him at his house twice. He managed to escape and stayed in hiding for two months. Failing to find him, armed men looted his house and harassed his family. In July 2023, the UNJHRO helped him and his family to relocate to a different region. In December 2023, due to lack of employment in their new place of residence, his family returned to their area of origin. Since then, M23 elements have kept his home under surveillance and visited his house at night three times looking for him.

Types of reprisals suffered
  • Family/friends/acquaintances targeted
  • Property damage/raid/search/confiscation
  • Surveillance
  • Threats/Intimidations (incl. "fear of reprisal")
Alleged/likely perpetrators
Non-state actor(s)
Was the reprisal based on new legislation?
No
Does the report make general comment about country’s environment for engagement with UN?
No
Government response dates
27 June 2024
Government response content

the Government responded to the note verbale sent in connection to the present report noting that armed groups operating in the North Kivu region, notably the M23, are the ones responsible for the human rights violations in this part of the country. The Government noted that it considers the cases above as samples bearing witness to violations committed by the M23.

Was the case raised by a State at the UN?
No
Is the country cited for a "pattern of reprisal" in the context of this case?
No
Is a pattern of reprisals mentioned otherwise in the context of this case?
No
Does the report cite "self-censorship" as an issue in the context of this case?
No