TV stations silenced by M23 resume retransmitting in Goma

Journalist in Danger (JED), the Reporters Without Borders partner organization in Democratic Republic of Congo, reports that retransmission of three national TV stations resumed in the eastern city of Goma on 2 December after being off the air for twelve days there following Goma’s seizure by M23 rebels. Reporters Without Borders joins Journalist in Danger in welcoming the end of this violation of freedom of information. For more information, here is the JED press release: “Journalist in Danger is pleased to note that retransmission of the signals of state-owned Radio Télévision Nationale Congolaise (RTNC) and two privately-owned stations, Digital Congo and Radio Télévision du Groupe l’Avenir (RTG@), resumed on the morning of 2 December in Goma, the capital of the eastern province of Nord-Kivu,” the JED release said. “Retransmission of these three stations resumed after the rebels of the 23 March Movement (M23) withdrew from Goma, which had been under their control for a week. “The signals of these three stations, which broadcast from the DRC capital of Kinshasa, were disconnected at around 2 p.m. on 20 November on a verbal order from M23 spokesman Vianney Kazarama. M23 did this to deprive Goma’s population of information provided by the government in Kinshasa.” RSF .