A new report by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) , published on March 26, 2026, paints an alarming picture: press freedom is collapsing in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Since the fall of Goma and Bukavu to the AFC/M23 rebellion earlier this year, journalists have been operating in a climate of terror, caught between the demands of the rebels and pressure from the government.

The M23's strategy of terror

The parallel administration established by the rebels in North and South Kivu has transformed the practice of law into a veritable struggle for survival. RSF details brutal methods of intimidation:

1. Arbitrary detentions: At least eight journalists have been imprisoned since January 2025. Some have been locked up in overcrowded containers serving as makeshift prisons.
2. Re-education and censorship: The M23 imposes "ideological training" on media professionals and dictates the content of local radio stations, even going so far as to impose specific talking points.
3. Self-censorship for survival: Faced with threats, many journalists choose to keep quiet about certain information collected in the field out of pure instinct for self-preservation.

Kinshasa pressure and the narrative war

The central government is not to be outdone. The report highlights that the Congolese government is using the High Council for Audiovisual and Communication (CSAC) to control the national narrative on the conflict.

Critical or independent journalists are regularly accused of complicity with the M23 or Rwanda. This "narrative war" is accompanied by an intensification of disinformation orchestrated by both sides, making access to reliable information virtually impossible.

A mass exodus of professionals

The human and social toll is heavy for the profession. According to the National Union of Congolese Press (UNPC), nearly 90 journalists had to abandon their homes and their profession between 2023 and early 2025 to escape the violence in North and South Kivu.

RSF's note: "All the journalists interviewed reported that their working methods have radically changed. Survival now takes precedence over information."