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By: Robert Patrick Fati Gakwerere
The lifeless body of Wilondja Mazambi Fiston, a journalist in his thirties, was discovered on Tuesday morning in a street in the Nguba neighborhood of Bukavu, a city currently under the control of RDF-M23. The victim showed signs of abuse, with a rope tied around his neck. He reportedly succumbed to his injuries shortly after being admitted to Bukavu General Hospital.
Wilondja worked for the Media Monitoring Center, a program led by the National Union of the Press of Congo (UNPC) aimed at monitoring journalistic ethics and standards. According to testimonies gathered by Journaliste en Danger (JED), he had been abducted the previous evening by an armed commando near “Place Mulamba chez Mangaza” while on his way home.
The journalist was reportedly among those forcibly recruited by the rebels to undergo ideological training after Bukavu was captured by RDF-M23 forces.
In a statement, JED expressed deep shock and demanded clear explanations from the rebel authorities. The press freedom advocacy group stressed that this murder goes beyond the scope of ordinary insecurity.
“This tragedy occurs in a context where journalists in occupied areas are constantly exposed to threats,” the organization noted. For his part, Darius Kitoga, president of the UNPC in South Kivu, stated that he had not received any prior reports or complaints regarding threats to the victim’s safety.
JED is calling for an independent investigation and an end to the impunity surrounding crimes committed against media professionals in eastern DRC.
Kidnappings, disappearances, and assassinations have become daily occurrences in the city of Bukavu since its capture by RDF-M23 on Sunday, February 16, 2025. What is unfolding in Bukavu reflects a broader trajectory of human rights atrocities taking place in areas under RDF-M23 control across Eastern DRC.
