Human rights defender and journalist, Mr Bruno Koko Chirambiza was murdered on 23 August 2009 in Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Bruno Chirambiza was a radio presenter for the privately owned station, Radio Star. He had reported on political instability and violations of human rights in the DRC. He is the third journalist to be killed in Sud-Kivu in recent years.

Further Information

On 21 November 2008, Radio Okapi journalist Didace Namujimbo was shot near his home. In 2007, the editor of the same station, Serge Maheshe Kasole, was shot while getting into his car.

On 23 August 2009 at approximately 12.30 am, Bruno Chirambiza and a friend were walking home from a wedding when they were attacked by a group of eight people in plain clothes approximately 150 metres from a post of the Police Rapid Intervention force.

While Bruno Chirambiza's friend managed to escape the armed gang, the human rights defender was pursued by the attackers and stabbed in the chest. He died after being rushed to hospital by persons from the surrounding area.

It appears that Bruno Chirambiza was specifically targeted by his attackers and none of his personal belongings were stolen from him. Bruno Chirambiza was buried the day after his death without an autopsy.

Human rights defenders have reported that they repeatedly requested that the police begin an investigation into the murder and on 25 August 2009, state authorities launched an investigation into the journalist's murder.

However, Radio Star station owner Pierre Pay-Pay criticised the four-day delay in initiating the investigation. Pay-Pay also stated that it “is curious, strange” that the authorities permitted the body to be buried on 23 August before any autopsy had been carried out.

He went on to say, “I assume perhaps Koko had been investigating in an area that was not good,” indicating that Bruno Chirambiza may have been targeted for his human rights activities.

In the past three years, at least seven journalists have been murdered in DRC.

Front Line is concerned that this latest assassination forms part of an increasing trend of harassment and attacks against journalists for their human rights work in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo. These attacks have largely gone unpunished.

Front Line is concerned that the failure to effectively investigate and prosecute those responsible for previous killings of human rights defenders in Bukavu contributes to the climate of impunity which facilitates further killings.

Front Line believes that Bruno Koko Chirambiza may have been targeted as a direct result of his reporting of human rights violations in the Southern-Kivu Province. Front Line is deeply concerned for the physical and psychological protection of human rights defenders in DRC.