There was pandemonium on September 19 when agents from the National Intelligence Agency stormed Radio Luluabourg FM, a private station broadcasting in Kananga, the capital of Kasaï-Central province.
The agents flashed an arrest warrant and entered the broadcasting studio and whisked away a journalist identified as Jean Ilunga. He was detained for the next 24hours and released the on Sept.20.
Ilunga is accused of “inciting revolt” for having regularly criticized the Head of State and provincial authorities in his programme “Tuibakayi Kasayi”, broadcast on Radio Luluabourg FM.
The Observatory for Press Freedom in Africa (OLPA) condemned the arrest, calling it an attempt at intimidation aimed at restricting the journalist’s freedom of speech.
The NGO also denounced a serious attack on press freedom, calling on provincial authorities to respect the rights of journalists and to cease any action that threatens press freedom.
