Trial of prominent DR Congo journalist opens

Stanis Bujakera, who works for Reuters and Jeune Afrique magazine, was detained on September 8 and transferred to prison less than a week later on suspicion of spreading false information.

His arrest followed a Jeune Afrique article published in late August, which suggested that Congolese military intelligence had killed opposition politician Cherubin Okende the month before.

The article -- which was unsigned -- was based on an alleged confidential memo from a separate intelligence agency. Congolese authorities have said the memo is a fake.

Bujakera's trial began on Friday inside the Makala prison in the Democratic Republic of Congo's capital, according to an AFP reporter present.

The 33-year-old's lawyers successfully petitioned the court on Friday to delay the proceedings by one week in order to better prepare their case.

But no immediate decision was made regarding a request to temporarily release Bujakera on humanitarian grounds, given poor conditions in Makala.

The trial comes amid rising political tensions in the DRC ahead of a presidential and parliamentary election scheduled for December 20.

Incumbent President Felix Tshisekedi, who came to office in 2019, is running for a second term.