DR Congo journalist arrested, 'missing' in Kinshasa: association

DR Congo journalist arrested, 'missing' in Kinshasa: association

The International Press Correspondents' Association in the Democratic Republic of Congo Tuesday expressed its "deep concern" over the arrest of one of its members, who has been missing since.

Congolese journalist Steve Wembi, a contributor to the New York Times, was targeted by "a raid (conducted) by agents allegedly belonging to the National Intelligence Agency" on Monday evening in the capital Kinshasa, the association said in a statement.

A reporter told AFP on the condition of anonymity that he saw Wembi being taken away from the hotel in a white jeep by the men who arrested him.

The association added that another of its members, journalist Pascal Mulegwa, a correspondent for Radio France Internationale, "who came to inquire about the situation of his colleague," was brutally arrested in front of the hotel and stripped of his personal belongings.

"A large sum of money was however taken from him by agents of the NIA."

It said it remains "concerned about threats and other pressure" on international press correspondents over the past months.

Kinshasa accuses Kigali of supporting this rebellion, which Kigali denies.

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