M23 rebels have targeted all radio stations that have continued to air Sauti Ya Wahami program in the region of Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) claimed that the arbitrary suppression is a serious infringement on journalistic pluralism because it is just six months to the DRC’s next presidential elections.

According to RSF, Sauti Ya Wahami referring to “The Voice of the Displaced,” is a Swahili-language radio program that was created in November 2022, to give a voice to victims of war between M23 and the DRC government’s Armed Forces (the FARDC). This programme is produced and hosted by 50 journalists, where most of them were internally displaced persons who currently have moved to Goma from rebel-held parts of the province, especially in Masisi Territory and Rutshuru Territory.

The journalists revealed that in five months, this is the second time that “Sauti Ya Wahami” has been banned, while the latest ban was issued by the head of the M23 communication and media department on July 14, 2023, through a social media platform to all radio station directors in the areas it controls.

Cooperating with the displaced journalists in Goma, journalists with partner radio stations in the occupied areas have been gathering information for them and even sending reports that the Goma-based journalists have edited. M23 issued its ban several weeks after this cooperation began.

“The ban on broadcasting this popular radio programme is a grave attack on journalistic pluralism. The unacceptable pressure to which media outlets continue to be subjected by the M23 rebels in this region encourages self-censorship and affects the quality of the news they provide. As the DRC enters an important election period, journalists must be able to practise their profession without fear of reprisals.” Director of RSF’s Sub-Saharan Africa bureau, Sadibou Marong, said.

Reporters Without Borders further added that since then, the programming has been progressively broadcasted again on several stations.

However, M23 eventually sent a communication to the directors of the radio stations in question stating, “You are called to the meeting on August 10, to evaluate this program. The program is still suspended in the meantime. You are reminded that Top Congo is still suspended as well. Only the “Sauti Ya Wahami” program is being evaluated.”