The rejection of Congolese journalist Stanis Bujakera’s request for provisional release on February 27 has stirred controversy, with Reporters Without Borders (RSF) expressing astonishment at the decision.
Bujakera, who has been on trial since October 13, remains in detention despite RSF stating that there are no grounds to continue holding him. He was arrested on September 8 following an article in Jeune Afrique magazine implicating military intelligence in the death of an opposition figure, Chérubin Okende.
Stanis Bujakera, a correspondent for Jeune Afrique (JA) and Reuters in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), as well as deputy editor-in-chief of the actuality.cd website continues to be held in Makala Central Prison in Kinshasa.
The seventh rejection of his request for provisional release prompted a response from RSF. Sadibou Marong, RSF’s Sub-Saharan Africa Desk Director, expressed surprise at the Kinshasa-Gombe High Court’s negative response.
The court’s decision to maintain Bujakera’s detention was announced on Tuesday, January 27. RSF is demanding his release and the dropping of all charges against him.
Marong emphasized the disappointment at the rejection of the provisional release request, stating, “It’s also extremely astounding, considering everything we’ve seen and what RSF has demonstrated through several investigations. From this perspective, there are no grounds to continue holding him.” RSF urges the Congolese authorities to release the journalist, asserting that his arrest and detention were unjustified.