DRC Media Regulatory Body Condemns French Media Outlets For Unbalance Reportage of M23 Conflict

The Higher Council for Audiovisual and Communication (CSAC), the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) media regulatory authority, has warned three French media outlets—RFI, France 24, and TV5 Monde.

The CSAC accuses these outlets, under the France Médias Monde group, of biased reporting on the conflict in North Kivu, particularly of emphasising the advances of the M23 rebel group while downplaying the successes of the Congolese Armed Forces (FARDC).

CSAC President Christian Bosembe stated that the media coverage from these outlets violated journalistic ethics by glorifying terrorism and spreading panic among the population.

This tendency seems to us contrary to journalistic ethics and tends to sow panic and amplify the feeling of insecurity among peaceful populations, he wrote.

This warning follows reports highlighting territorial gains by the M23 rebel group, which have alarmed international actors, including the UN.

We demand from your media a balanced, rigorous media coverage that respects the fundamental principles of diversity of opinion or sources, sacred principles in journalism, he continued.

The Congolese government has urged Congolese citizens to trust the FARDC’s efforts to reclaim occupied territories and denounced Rwanda’s alleged support for the rebels.

Rwanda, in turn, denies the accusations and accuses the DRC of backing the FDLR, another militant group.

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