[Press release] – MILRDC condemns ban on Top Congo’s « Le Debate » by provincial minister of interior MILRDC denounces the liberticidal decision prohibiting bourgmestres the show Le Debate de Top Congo FM, one of its members.

The Association of online news media in the DRC (MILRDC ASBL) strongly denounces a serious attack on freedom of the press which was guilty of the provincial Minister of the Interior by banning, Tuesday the production of the broadcast The Top Congo debate whose filming was planned at the communal house of N’djili.

In fact, by conditioning this production on its prior approval, Dolly Makambo violated the constitutional right to information.

MILRC condemns this liberticidal act and draws the attention of the President of the Republic, guarantor of the respect of the Constitution which enshrines the right to information for all.

MILRDC points out that this behavior by the provincial minister of the interior is at odds with the Head of State’s clearly expressed vision of the role of the media in establishing the rule of law.

MILRDC asks the governor of the city to call his interior minister to order.

MILRDC believes that the accountability of the public authorities that promotes the program « The Debate », to which several bourgmestres have subscribed freely, promotes the admissibility of public action, good governance and citizen awakening.

MILRDC reminds the interior minister of the city of Kinshasa that the communes have administrative autonomy and that, therefore, the burgomasters are free to report to their citizens.

MILRDC reminds the public that when Dolly Makambo was bourgmestre of the Gombe Commune, he had already demonstrated anti-republican behavior by breaking into the center interdiocesain to remove a banner.

MILRDC warns that large-scale actions could be taken against any member of the provincial executive who would, in the event of a second offense, harm the right of the public to be informed, of the right of journalists to report, and of scrupulous respect for the obligation of accountability of any state clerk.

MILRDC invites all journalists and Congolese media to show solidarity with Top Congo FM, one of its members, to protect their right to inform.

Made in Kinshasa on July 23, 2018.

Israel Mutala
President