Congo: Journalist Rozenn Kalafulo forced into hiding due to threats from the military

October 16, 2020, Brazzaville, Congo -- Congolese journalist Rozenn Kalafulo said in an interview she gave to AFP that she has been hiding in an unknown destination for a week after threatening remarks of army officers during a press conference by President of the Democratic Republic of Congo Felix Tshisekedi. Editor-in-chief of Pole FM, Rozenn Kalafulo asked the head of state about the business activities of certain high-ranking members of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) and about their potential links with armed groups during the press conference. 

In her question, she indicated that soldiers were accused by civil society of "smuggling goods and trading cocoa" or "of being in cahoots with armed groups".

She has since claimed to be in hiding. "Witnesses told her that they overheard a conversation in which senior officers allegedly threatened to attack her after she questioned the head of state about the commercial activities of certain officers of the Congolese army and their potential links with armed groups, ” Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said in a statement.

While DRC ranks in 150th place out of 180 in the press freedom index of RSF, pressure by the military on journalists is rampant. The Coalition For Women In Journalism asks the authorities to guarantee Rozenn Kalafulo. Journalists should not be intimidated and pushed to silence for doing their duties.