Kinshasa, May 5th, 2025 (CPA) – ‘There is no strong Republic without journalists standing up for themselves’, declared the Congolese Head of State at a ceremony in Kinshasa, as he warned media professionals in the Democratic Republic of Congo against misinformation at a time of war of aggression.
‘(…) There can be no lasting peace without freedom of the press, there can be no real democracy without plurality of information. There can be no strong Republic without strong journalists. On this solemn day, I call on you to remain vigilant, united and resolutely committed to this essential battle for truth, justice and the dignity of the Congolese people’, urged Félix Tshisekedi, on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, celebrated on May 3rd each year. President Tshisekedi maintained that Congolese journalists are in a permanent struggle against disinformation at a time of Rwandan aggression, as the main negative product of Artificial Intelligence (AI), despite its technical advantages. ‘Never has information circulated so quickly, never has disinformation been so pernicious, and never has the line between the two been so fine, at a time when our country is facing brutal external aggression that violates our sovereignty. It must simultaneously address the issue of ecosystem freedom, freedom of the mind, freedom of the spirit. To confront another, more insidious war, that of manipulation, propaganda and the blurring of the truth’, he said. For Tshisekedi, ‘this information war, in which the truth is systematically targeted, is exacerbated by the emergence of disruptive technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), which is profoundly changing the way information is produced and disseminated’. Although AI offers extraordinary opportunities for the media, with tools for analyzing complex data, producing content more quickly, or reaching a wider audience, it also entails major risks, notably that of disinformation, said Félix Tshisekedi, addressing the national theme of the day: ‘The Congolese journalist faced with the challenge of artificial intelligence. Information and disinformation in times of Rwandan aggression’.
A duty to maintain the momentum of the progress made
A view of the participants in the room
President Tshisekedi also encouraged the press in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to maintain the momentum of the progress made in this sector since he took office. ‘This progress is the fruit of a fruitful republican dialogue and a collective commitment driven by the desire to make the Congolese press a genuine pillar of democracy and national cohesion. I therefore call on all stakeholders to relentlessly pursue the reform process that has been underway since my accession to the supreme magistracy. Let us work together so that it bears more fruit in the service of a truly free, independent, ethical and professional press, respectful of ethical rules, good morals and the laws of the Republic’, declared the President of the Republic. The Congolese Head of State took the opportunity to welcome the new management team of the National Press Union of Congo (UNPC), which he considers to be a privileged partner of the Government in meeting the crucial challenges facing the sector. He also spoke of the mutual duty of the Government and media professionals to work to ensure that freedom of the press, one of the priorities of his program of action since his first term in office, is a true pillar of democracy and a source of fulfillment for journalists. Hence his appeal to Congolese media professionals to act as true guardians of the collective memory and players in national cohesion, and above all to act as ‘spokespeople for the Congolese people’ on the international stage. ‘I call on you to be true guardians of the collective memory, sentinels of the truth. Your actions must contribute to national cohesion’, insisted President Tshisekedi. Earlier in his speech, President Tshisekedi had paid tribute to the memory of former journalists who died in the exercise of their apostolate. “Their heroism, their silent silence, their exemplary integrity and their tireless quest for truth enrich our collective conscience and reinforce our common duty to defend freedom of expression,” he said, inviting the audience to a brief moment of contemplation. ACP/