Another Congolese Journalist Killed

UNESCO Chief Deplores Killing Of Another Congolese Journalist

New York, Nov 27 2008 2:10PM

While adding his voice to the growing chorus of senior United Nations officials condemning last week's murder of a Congolese journalist, the head of the UN agency tasked with defending press freedom today welcomed the call from Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for a full investigation of the crime.

Didace Namujimbo, 34, died after being shot in the neck by unknown assailants last Friday night as he returned to his home in the South Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). He leaves behind a wife and three children.

"I condemn the murder of Didace Namujimbo," declared Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

He was the second Radio Okapi journalist to be killed in capital of South Kivu, Bukavu, in the last year and the sixth media professional to be killed in similar circumstances in the DRC over the last three years, according to the non-governmental organization (NGO) Journaliste en Danger.

Radio Okapi is a partnership between the UN mission in the DRC, known by its French acronym (MONUC), and the Hirondelle Foundation, a Swiss NGO.

"Journalists are being targeted because of their work, yet telling the story is particularly important in view of the extreme violence affecting the region. It is therefore important that this killing be investigated fully and condemned," Mr. Matsuura said.

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