Trial of prominent DR Congo journalist opens
![Trial of prominent DR Congo journalist opens Trial of prominent DR Congo journalist opens](https://citizentv.obs.af-south-1.myhuaweicloud.com/109958/conversions/Stanis-Bujakera-Transferred-to-Makala-Prison-in-DRC-News-Central-TV-og_image.webp)
Journalist Stanis Bujakera, who works for Reuters and Jeune Afrique magazine.
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.
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