On Monday, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) issued a strong appeal to both the government and rebel factions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), demanding an end to the harassment of journalists, particularly highlighting the case of Tuver Wundi, a reporter who has faced repeated detentions and professional setbacks.

Angela Quintal, CPJ Regional Director, condemned the actions against Wundi, stating, “Detaining Tuver Wundi without just cause is a blatant attempt to intimidate the press and deprive the Congolese public of critical information about the ongoing conflict in eastern DRC.” She further stressed that it is imperative for both the Congolese authorities and rebel groups, including those backed by the M23 Congo River Alliance, to ensure that journalists can safely fulfill their duties across the nation.

Wundi's tribulations began when M23 rebels detained him on February 25, shortly after they took control of Goma. He was held for 11 days under ambiguous circumstances and was later dismissed from his role at a national broadcaster for refusing to skew programming in favor of the insurgents. Accusations against him included threatening state security and collaboration with the central government in Kinshasa.

The journalist faced further adversity on August 27 in Kinshasa, where he was detained by six agents from the government’s National Intelligence Agency for four days without any formal charges. His belongings were only returned to him on September 5. These incidents underscore the precarious situation for media personnel in eastern DRC, where reporting is severely hampered by both armed factions and governmental bodies.

Moreover, the press freedom situation in the DRC has been deteriorating, with North Kivu, Wundi's region of activity, witnessing over 50 attacks on journalists and news outlets from January 2024 to January 2025. These incidents ranged from looting and threats to physical assaults. Additionally, at least 26 community radio stations were compelled to shut down, with numerous journalists facing displacement for resisting M23 propaganda or exposing abuses.

The national media landscape is also suffocating under political and regulatory pressures, with critical reporting on the conflict leading to suspensions and further harassment. The decline in media freedom is reflected in the country’s fall in the Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index, where the DRC now ranks 133 out of 180 countries, a significant drop from the previous year.

Amid these challenges, the resurgence of M23 violence has exacerbated the security risks for civilians and media workers alike. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights flagged July 2025 as the deadliest period for civilians since the group’s resurgence in 2022, highlighting the dire circumstances under which journalists like Wundi operate—an environment marred by intimidation, forced disappearances, and arbitrary detentions.