The ordeal of journalists in the Republic of Congo: Press freedom is conditional. Some topics are tolerated, others much less so'

"Her crime was publishing an article about the anniversary of one of the most violent events in the history of the Republic of the Congo: the 1982 bombing of the Maya-Maya International Airport in the capital, Brazzaville. In her report, Pioth stated that, 43 years later, the victims' families were still demanding justice and compensation. She also opined that the investigation into what happened should continue. The investigation revealed contradictions in the presidential pardons granted to the defendants in the 1986 trial."

"It also highlighted the fact that one of the convicted men said he learned of his sentence through the press, without anyone questioning him when he returned to Congo a year later, and that the promised compensation to the victims' families was never paid out, Pioth explains to EL PAIS in a WhatsApp message. All of this demonstrates that the judicial, political and human treatment of the attack was incomplete. That's probably why I received threats, she notes."

"I knew I was taking a risk doing this kind of an investigation, but I never imagined having to get out [of the country] so suddenly and leave my family behind, she sighs. My whole life has been turned upside down: my home, school, my income, my family's stability Professionally, I had to stop going to report in person and prioritize working remotely. [I also had to] strengthen my digital and physical security, a"

Rosie Pioth, a 43-year-old Congolese journalist and correspondent for France 24 who directs Fact-Check Congo, published reporting on the 1982 Maya-Maya airport bombing anniversary. The reporting noted that victims' families still demand justice and compensation and called for continuation of the investigation. The investigation uncovered contradictions in presidential pardons from the 1986 trial, a convicted man who learned of his sentence via the press, and unpaid promised compensation. Following threats, Pioth hid for days, then left the country, abandoning daily life and shifting to remote reporting while strengthening digital and physical security.

Read at english.elpais.com