Journalists Trapped In North Kivu, DR Congo After Rebel Attack

Some journalists are currently trapped in North Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of Congo following attacks by M23 rebels in the area. 

Journalists of Radio la Voix de Mikeno that broadcasts from Bunagana, a village situated at the frontier with Uganda in Rutshuru territory, and other journalists who were on assignments in that part of North Kivu have been blocked in the Mikeno radio installations since Monday, March 28, as a result of an ongoing attack by the rebels.

“Fearing for their lives, they grouped together in the Mikeno radio installations in Bunagana after a majority of the inhabitants had fled to Kisoro, a locality near Ugandan territory,” one of the journalists who did not want to be identified told HumAngle.

Daniel Shematsi, a journalist with Radio UPDECO, a station transmitting from Rutshuru who was on a reporting assignment along with an independent cameraman in the area said they were unable to move because the M23 rebels had encircled the zone.

“Up until now, no attack has targeted the radio station,” Shematsi said from his hideout along with his colleagues.

“We are unable to get any basic necessities because the whole town is deserted. All the journalists here are in search of an opening through which to leave this zone.”