VOA Journalist arrested in the Eastern DRC

Jimmy Shukrani Bakomera, a journalist working for the Voice of America in the Kirundi and Kinyarwanda department was arrested in eastern Congo.

Jimmy Shukrani Bakomera is accused of close collaboration with M23.

Jimmy Shukrani Bakomera was arrested in Karuba in Masisi Territory on Thursday 16 February 2023.

Congolese intelligence agencies say that this journalist works with the M23 group that continues to attack the government of Kinshasa.

After being arrested, Jimmy Shukran Bakomera was immediately sent to the Investigation Cell in Goma City.

One of the journalists working in Goma City told UMUSEKE that the accusations against their colleague are fabricated.

He says that Jimmy Shukrani went to Karuba on Thursday to cover the story about the registration of the voters in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

It is an activity that started in eastern Congo on Thursday, February 16, 2023.

Talking to UMUSEKE, he said: “He is not allowed to talk to people, he can be taken to Kinshasa and accused of working with M23.”

On social media, journalists working in North Kivu continue to condemn the imprisonment of their colleague, saying that it is aimed at silencing the media.

They point out that since the war broke out between the government and the M23 group, journalists have been harassed by the government and others have been jailed for unclear reasons.