The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today called for an investigation into the “violent” assault by Congolese police officers on journalist Giscard Mahoungou who was attacked while covering a student demonstration.

“We condemn this violent assault, which looks like reprisals against media reporting on police violence,” said Gabriel Baglo, Director of the IFJ Africa office. “The Congolese government should conduct an independent investigation into the attack on Giscard to find out why he was targeted and if police officers are trying to hide their activities from the media and the public.”

On 8 September, Mahoungou, a journalist with the privately-owned Digital Radio Télévision (DRTV), was assaulted at the University Marien Ngouabi in the capital city Brazzaville while reporting on a protest against the hazing of new students.

According to the Congolese Federation of Unions of Communication Workers (FESYTRAC), when Mahoungou arrived he had an argument with a police officer who said, “You DRTV journalists, where do you think you are? You are everywhere!”

 The reporter told the officer that he just wanted to do his work.  

About ten minutes later, during skirmishes between the students and the police, a group of police officers beat Mahoungou. The journalist told FESYTRAC executives that he is convinced that they knew that he was a journalist as he had a microphone with a DRTV logo and the cameraman he was working with was wearing the station’s jacket.

Mahoungou was treated in hospital for injuries to his head and jaw and was released.

The IFJ is calling on the Congolese police administration to take disciplinary sanctions against all of the officers involved in the attack.

“The police administration must make it clear that officers cannot attack journalists on duty with impunity and that any officer who does will face serious consequences,” Baglo said. “If it fails to do that, we fear that this type of attack will happen again.”

For more information contact the IFJ at +221 33 842 01 43
The IFJ represents over 600,000 members in 122 countries worldwide