DRC Withdraws Accreditations for Al-Jazeera Journalists

The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has taken a drastic decision to withdraw all reporting authorizations granted to journalists from the Qatari channel Al-Jazeera. This measure was formalized in a letter sent to the channel’s acting Director General, Mostefa Souag, and reviewed by AFP on Friday.

In the letter dated Thursday, the Congolese Minister of Communication and Media, Patrick Muyaya, stated: “I hereby inform you of the immediate withdrawal of all reporting authorizations in the Democratic Republic of Congo currently valid and granted to your team.”

This decision comes amid a tense political context, where relations between the Congolese government and certain international media outlets, including Al-Jazeera, appear to be deteriorating. Although the specific reasons for this measure were not detailed in the letter, it may reflect disagreements over the media’s portrayal of the situation in the country.

Al-Jazeera, headquartered in Doha, Qatar, is an internationally recognized news channel known for its coverage of global events. The Congolese government’s decision is likely to provoke reactions on the international stage, particularly concerning press freedom and access to information in the region.

Observers are closely monitoring the responses from Al-Jazeera and journalist rights organizations, which may criticize this decision as an infringement on freedom of expression in the DRC.

N.A