Death of a journalist in Bukavu : JED calls for transparency on the circumstances

SOS Médias Burundi

Bukavu, August 6, 2025 — The organization Journalist in Danger (JED) calls on the leaders of the Congo River Alliance (AFC) and the M23, who currently control the city of Bukavu, to clarify the circumstances of the death of journalist Wilondja Mazambi Fiston, found dead on the morning of Tuesday, August 5.

In a statement released on Tuesday, JED stated that the journalist succumbed to his injuries shortly after being admitted to the emergency room of Bukavu General Hospital, following what the organization describes as “severe torture.”

According to information gathered by JED, Wilondja Mazambi was abducted the previous day, Monday, August 4, by an armed group around 6 p.m., near Mulamba Square, in the Nguba neighborhood.

“This situation does not appear to be a trivial case of insecurity,” insists JED, urging the AFC/M23 authorities to shed full light on the circumstances of this death.

The journalist, aged around thirty, worked for the Media Monitoring Center, an ethics and professional conduct monitoring program managed by the National Press Union of Congo (UNPC).

So far, no official response has been received from the Congo River Alliance regarding this case.