STANIS BUJAKERA

Journalism Award | Nominee | Freedom of Expression Awards

Stanis is deputy director of the Congolese online news outlet Actualite.cd, a reporter for Jeune Afrique and Reuters. Police officers arrested Stanis on 8 September 2023 at Kinshasa’s Ndjili airport. He was charged with “spreading false information”, “forgery and the use of forged documents,” and “distributing false documents.” He faced up to 15 years in prison. The authorities questioned Stanis about an article published by Jeune Afrique citing a leaked intelligence report on the murder of Cherubin Okende, an opposition official who was found dead in Kinshasa in July. Authorities claimed the report was fake and accused Stanis of fabricating and distributing it despite the article not bearing his name.

During a hearing on 8 March 2024, the public prosecutor requested that the journalist be convicted and sentenced to 20 years in prison and fined one million Congolese francs. During that hearing, the report of a technical expert commissioned by the court presented findings that suggested Bujakera was not the principal source of the document that the DRC intelligence service claimed to be false. Independent organisations also noted that the authorities were not able to prove that the questioned document was false, raising concerns that the targeting of Stanis was intended to force him to disclose his sources and prevent him from covering the general elections. On 18 March 2024, a Kinshasa court found Bujakera guilty of charges including forgery and "spreading false rumours", and ordered a six-month sentence along with a fine of one million Congolese francs. As Stanis had already served this term, he was released the following day after his employer paid the fine. Stanis now continues to report on the DRC from the US.

"I am honoured to be considered alongside other brave journalists who have risked so much to tell the stories that deserve to be told. For me, this award is a testament to the power of journalism and the importance of a free press in holding to account those who hold power and make decisions. I am proud to be part of a community of journalists who refuse to be silenced or intimidated."