Swiss Foreign Ministry condemns the killing of Radio Okapi journalist  

    The Swiss Foreign Ministry condemned the assassination of a Radio Okapi journalist in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

    The statement said that Didace Namujimbo is the second journalist from Radio Okapi, after Serge Maheshe, to have been killed within one year.

     The Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) is deeply concerned about these assaults on the freedom of the press in the region.

    Didace Namujimbo was shot dead on Friday 20 November close to his house in Bukavu, in Eastern Congo.

    The Radio Okapi journalist is survived by his wife and two children. The FDFA extends its deepest sympathy to his family and to the Hirondelle Foundation of Switzerland, which supports the radio project.  

    Namujimbo had intensively researched the events leading to the assassination of his colleague, Serge Maheshe, and the widespread problem of rape. In an unequal battle violence has won over humanity.  

    The Swiss Foreign Ministry added that it regards the right of the press to work freely as an indispensable part of the promotion of democracy.

    The Radio Okapi project is supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.

    The Swiss Foreign Ministry condemned, in its statement, this violation of the freedom of the press and demands full explanations of both assassinations. (24 November 2008)

Fondation Hirondelle:

DIDACE NAMUJIMBO, RADIO OKAPI JOURNALIST MURDERED IN BUKAVU (DRC)

    Kinshasa, 22 November 2008 (Fondation Hirondelle) - Didace Namujimbo, a journalist with Radio Okapi, was murdered by unknown individuals in Bukavu, in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo on Friday (21 November) evening.

    He was returning home when he was hit by one bullet to the head a few metres only from his home.

    There are no indications regarding the identity of his attackers, nor the motive or possible individuals behind this murder.

    Fondation Hirondelle, which jointly runs Radio Okapi in partnership with the UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC), is deeply shocked by this despicable crime.

    Radio Okapi, plays a central role in combating violence and arbitrary practices, in particular in Eastern Congo, thanks to the quality of its programming.

    Its journalists are very much at risk. Didace Namujimbo is the second Radio Okapi journalist murdered in Bukavu, after Serge Maheshe, who was murdered on 13 June 2007 in similar circumstances. The trial of Serge Maheshe's suspected killers has not yet led to the identification of those behind his murder.

    Fondation Hirondelle strongly condemns Didace Namujimbo's murder and demands that all the necessary steps be taken to identify his assailant(s). The Fondation Hirondelle is determined to continue its work disseminating independent information for the Congolese people.