Ready to die: How I was threatened in Congo by the government (part 1)

Threat to my life and profession in Congo

In this chapter, I am not going to enumerate all the major threats that I have been victim of while living and working in the Republic of Congo as a journalist. But, I must point out clearly that, it was a tough working environment. It was and it is still an environment that also requires a person who is ready for the ultimate sacrifice or a person who is equally as determined as the forces that were/are against democracy and above all, freedom of speech. In Congo, while I was determined to press forward my professional goal and also help push forward democracy through free speech, I knew the consequence would be an eventual, death. Death is the reward for anyone who is a prodemocracy advocate or a professional journalist, who doesn’t support the Congolese government. It is a brutal regime that hides its violence through the courteous manners of those manning it. I had made up my mind. I was prepared to die in defense of my professional independence, even though I must confess that, I was sometimes afraid. Nevertheless, I knew that, the inevitable was certainly going to happen, should I continue on the path that, I had opted. I also knew that, being an independent professional journalist with a knack for investigative journalism, I was going to suffer the same fate of four my late colleagues whose names I have mentioned below. If all those who have died because of what they believed in could be resurrected, I would want to hear their accounts on the months and days, before their brutal end in this world.

My experience has shown that, when you are hated for what you are doing, you are afraid, but you put on a brave face, while knowing full well that, you may be killed. The most difficult part is that, you know your fate, but you don’t when or how it will be carried out. As already mentioned above, I am only going to focus on the most recent threats that I underwent. In Congo, all journalists, even those who are singing the praise of the system have or are subject to one form of threat to the other. The paradox with the regime of Denis Sassou Nguesso that spends billions to launder his image and also that of his country is that, on paper, the republic of Congo doesn’t have journalists in jail. That sounds good. And this is exactly an aspect that deceives some human right defense groups such as Reporters without borders (rsf), which in their recent or 2015 press freedom rankings, placed Brazzaville in a better position than countries such as Nigeria.  The reality is that, Congo’s violation of press freedom might be at par with that of Eritrea. For this is a country where almost all newspapers that are supposedly against the government, have either been suspended or banned indefinitely. It is also a country where the owners of electronic media: Radio and Television are either member of the presidential family or close to them. And while the Congolese government, stifle internal presses freedom, the same government sponsors prestige media projects such as Africanews or Afrique media or Africa 24.

Congo might appear to some organisations as a country where the press is not under threat, but they (Congolese government), have shown to the world, their true colour. For they have carried out a number of violent expulsions of journalists and also carried out the assassination of four others: Bruno J. Ossebi, Ghislain Simplice Ongouya, Joseph Ngouala and Prosper Mokabi Ndawa. All these journalists have been assassinated by either the Congolese government or pro-government thugs simply because, they were independent minded professionals, who have not pander to what the government, wanted them to do. In Congo, when a journalist is about to informed or killed, he is forewarned. The Congolese government is as you will read in the chapter on Congolese culture, is a system that seldom likes criticism. They prefer praises. Hence they spend billions to launder their rotten images. 

Thierry Lezin Moungalla MP: Profile of an eloquent and intelligent gentleman

Thierry Lezin Moungalla MP, until his recent appointment as minister of Communications and Media in charge of relations with the national assembly and official government spokesman, he was the minister of Post and Telecommunications and Digital Technology. Mr Moungalla is an eloquent and intelligent gentleman and also for Congolese elite, he respects time and keeps to his promises. He was a former arch enemy of the ruling party and the current President. However now, his is the poodle of the ruling party especially to Claudia Sassou Nguesso and Jean Jacques Bouya. Anyway that is what his detractors claim.  And before carpet crossing to join his former foes of the ruling party, under whose banner he has been elected MP for Sibiti, a town located in the Lekoumou division or department, which is in the south of Congo, he was one of the special advisers of Andre Milongo. Andre Milongo was the former Congolese Prime minister, during the transition from Marxist rule to multiparty democracy in the 90s. Thierry Moungalla who has spend most of his youth in France, where he also did most of his education, was as indicated earlier, formerly a member of the opposition UDR Mwinda, chaired by  late Andre Milongo and he was also the editor in chief of an online magazine that was virulently against President Denis Sassou Nguesso. But today, he has become an avid supporter of the President and also a strong proponent of constitutional change.

From opposition to fanatical supporter

While he is today a vocal supporter of President Denis Sassou Nguesso and has been given the ministerial post of Communications and government spokesperson, a responsibility that is given only to fanatical supporters in difficult times, he is being accused and described by his detractors as a shameless traitor, who has betrayed the legacy of his mentor, Andre Milongo.  According to his detractors, it was Andre Milongo who discovered his talents in France and brought him in Congo and also introduced him in the national political milieu. It is an accusation that is roundly rejected by Thierry Moungalla, who says, he is still loyal to his mentor and has never betrayed him.  He also adds that, he (Thierry Moungalla) is at the service of Congo and not working for individuals or an individual, no matter how important he is or may have been. However, it is very difficult to say with precision whether Thierry Moungalla has really converted into a staunch supporter of the regime or whether he is just a patriot who has opted to support a “lesser crime” or “the lesser criminal” called Denis Sassou Nguesso, because of the stability and infrastructural development that he has stirred the country toward. But what is certain is that, given his intellectual background, he might be useful for the country after the end of the nepotism tinged government of President Denis Sassou Nguesso. However, given his decision to be at the forefront in the campaign for the change of the January 2002 constitution, an unpopular project, but a pet project nursed by the president, might cause Thierry Moungalla dearly, if it succeeds or fails to actualize. This is so because, even within the ruling party and also within the ruling Nguesso family, there are many who are against the change of the constitution, which will prolong the stay of President Denis Sassou Nguesso in power.

Thierry Moungalla knows that, logically and legally, the January 20^th 2002 constitution cannot be changed. Hence his own strategy is tilted toward political justifications to back the reasons, why he thinks or wants constitutional change in Congo.  Whether he is being honest or simply politicking or even playing the opportunist, it is only known by him. But all I know is that, he seems sincere in his defense of the controversial constitutional change plan. For he has once told me that, the reason why he wants the constitution to be changed is not to perpetuate Denis Sassou Nguesso in power everlastingly, as claimed by the opposition, civil society organizations and also by some Congolese. According to him, the constitutional change will give Congo a new modern constitution, which will takes into account the new realities in the country. But most importantly he confided to me that, he is campaigning because, he is aware that, if Denis Sassou Nguesso goes, he is also finish along with all those supporting the President. He is sincere in saying that, it is a personal matter and not that of the nation’s interest as they always claim officially. That is a well choreograph response from most supporters of the President who are mindful that, their champion is a spent force that is not wanted any more by the people is this: the constitutional change will give Congo a new modern constitution, which will takes into account the new realities in the country.

Tough challenge

Thierry Moungalla is a maniac of cleanliness, modernity and technologically savvy in a country where most of his colleagues don’t know how to use computers, besides a hand few. He must therefore show the world that, he is a real democrat now that he is at the ministry of Communications. Even though working with people who hate free speech and prefers only praise singers, Thierry Moungalla must show his credentials as a liberal albeit working with Communists by allowing the national television and radio stations to be open to all shades of opinions. He should also lift the bans on newspapers and journalists that are rampant in Congo these days. He should help make Congo to stop being a violent police state, where journalists are raped, killed, arrested and expelled willy-nilly, for doing nothing but their job. But can he? Will he have the courage to tell his bosses that, what Congo has really become in term of media freedom? The reality is that, there is no freedom of speech in Congo. Homes of journalists, actors of the civil society and opposition leaders are regularly attacked and their computers stolen by a police headed by Jean Francois Ndenguet. General Jean Francois Ndenguet, who runs two militia organizations namely Gordon Security and Dorsah Security, which pass for security firms, has  now transformed the Police into his private, militia.

Thierry Moungalla is working for a government that has cut all subventions to the national press. The national daily Nouvelle Republic and the national Printing press have been destroyed in favor of Les Depeches de Brazzaville, which is a pseudo independent press at the service of the private and personal propaganda of Denis Sassou Nguesso. He is also working for a government, that has ruined the national press and doen’t grants them subventions. The irony is that, the government that Thierry Moungalla is Communications minister hates press freedom and has ban record number of print media outlets and expelled record number of journalists. But currently, in its quest for public relations stunts and also in its insatiable lust for aggrandizement, the government of Congo is not only subsidizing external media such as Vision 4 TV in Cameroon, she is hosting of Africanews, a subsidiary of the pan European broadcaster: Euronews, that is shamelessly supporting a regime that has singled out itself as the north Korea of the CEMAC.

Questions to Africanews

Will Africanews be allowed to be independent? Will they be given a list of people namely: Mathias Dzon, Clement Mierassa, Joe Washington Ebina, Patrick Eric Mampouya and Guy-Romain Kinfossia, that will be barred from Africanews?  Will they respect it?  Africanews has a still birth because of where they have chosen as their base.  And it is a shame to the European who pretends to be custodian of free press to have chosen the heart of press oppression as the base of their African subsidiary. The only other countries within the sub region where freedom of speech is an illusion are: Chad, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. There paradox with these countries including Congo is that, they are exporting free speech by sponsoring pan African televisions and newspapers but in their respective countries, there is no freedom of Speech. Thierry Moungalla will be judged first on how he runs the National Television and Radio stations abbreviated: CNRTV and  secondly, if he will be  able to revive the national daily called La Nouvelle Republique and the national printing press. Above all else, he will be judged on how independent he will be and also on how much freedom he will be able to bring Congo back from the brink of pariah status, as far as freedom of speech and free press are concern. His political future hangs in a balance. He must be a reformer.

Congo: the atrocious assassination of journalist Bruno Jacquet Ossebi

The well known case of assassination of a journalist in Congo is that of Bruno Jacquet Ossebi of Franco-Congolese nationality.  The other less known was the appalling assassination of Joseph Ngouala.  As for Bruno Jacquet Ossebi, he was killed in an atrocious manner by the security forces on the 2^nd of February 2009 because of his investigative reporting. Congolese authorities have profound detestation for independent journalism, in particular, investigative journalists. Those who are still alive have two options: join the praise singing group or lie low. Any  journalist who wants to stay alive or work as an independent and professional journalist, risk threat at best or at worst, assassination or humiliation in form of the rape of any member of his/her family.  In case the journalist is female, she risk being gang raped, this in a bid to intimidate and also humiliate her. And if it is a foreigner reporter or journalist, he or she will be framed up and then expelled. It is in this sort of totalitarian country that, Naguib Swaris, the Egyptian majority shareholder of the pan European news network, Euronews has decided to base its African subsidiary, called Africanews.

How will Africanews work in Congo?  Has the parent company headed by Michael Peters signed a deal with the crafty Congolese authorities? Only time will tell and the independence of Africanews will be judge on how objective they will cover the upcoming presidential elections.  Bruno Ossebi’s assassins have never been found nor prosecuted.  The Congolese government is not interested. To the Congolese authorities, the death of Bruno Ossebi was non event. Bruno Jacquet Ossebi who was born on the 10^th of December 1964 in France and was killed in his home in Brazzaville, in an atrocious manner, by men sent from the specialized killing squad of the Congolese security services. He was locked up in his home with his two children and fuel poured around his home and then, the house was set ablaze.  His two children died from burns that they sustained. But Bruno Jacquet Ossebi did not die immediately. He sustained serious burns and was taken to the Brazzaville Pierre Mobengo military hospital for treatment. However, instead of  him being given medical attention, he was killed.

People who do not know Congolese governing elite very well, will not believe that, the often well dressed and well mannered men and women, who often than not, have sugar coated speeches, would be able to carry out such horrific acts as they have done with Bruno Ossebi and others. The reality is that, the governing elite in Congo are a refined lot. But it is one aspect of their fundamental capacity of dissimulation.  They seldom speak English, however they almost all, would speak fluent French and want to behave like French politicians. But it is just a coat of paint. In reality, they (elite in Congo) are a people who have bestial behaviors. As refined as they may sometimes appear, so also they are in their determination to commit crimes that, they think are refined whereas in reality, their committed crimes are crude and brutal, which are reflections of their real barbaric and uneducated selves. They don’t entertain contradictions. They (Congolese elite) are professionals in disguising their true self. If you don’t have a strong capacity of discernment, doubled with a good dose of patience and observation, you could be carried away by the sweet talks and appearance of true Congolese elite, who are mostly members of the ruling PCT and from northern Congo. 

Denis Sassou Nguesso: a paradoxical man who loves prominence

It has to be noted clearly that, because of the intervention of Maurice Nguesso, DRTV is alive and broadcasting today in the Republic of Congo. But the editorial line of DRTV is not very different from that of the state owned broadcaster, Tele Congo. Although the editorial line of DRTV is not different from that of the national broadcaster, it has not prevented DRTV from being a target of state brutality or intimidation from the police. For the government of Denis Sassou Nguesso doesn’t entertain any form of dissent. All Denis Sassou Nguesso and those around him like or enjoy are praises. Hence, they spend FCFA billion on public relations firms and also finance newspapers or electronic media around the continent and in Europe, in particular in France, for their promotion. Denis Sassou Nguesso is a paradoxically man who loves prominence but loathes all forms of contradictions. For example, he doesn’t like free speech and detest real democracy. He doesn’t support local media and doesn’t like competent independent Congolese journalists, but yet he has partly financed Africanews, which is a subsidiary of the pan European TV, Euronews.

Denis Sassou Nguesso has done everything for the pan European TV to be based in Congo, not because he likes their professionalism, but, simply because it will give him a good press in Europe. Nevertheless, the day Africanews focuses on how he runs Congo, their friendship will end. Perhaps the secret contract between Denis Sassou Nguesso and Euronews is that, they should not nose into the internal affairs of Congo or focus on showering praise on Denis Sassou Nguesso.  Some people think that Denis Sassou Nguesso is almost always influenced negatively by those around him. But the fact that Africanews has been given authorization to operates against the will of the security  and intelligence services of Congo is one big prove that, Denis Sassou Nguesso does only what he thinks is good for him. For Colonel Thomas Bakala Mayinda, the head of the Congolese intelligence service told me that, they were against the installation of Africanews in Congo and that, if it came, it was because of Claudia Sassou Nguesso. But Claudia Sassou Nguesso, the widow of late Mr Lemboumba can’t act without the support or approval of her father.

Once, Paul Soni-BENGA, the Director of DRTV and host of a TV programme called “Sans Detour” presented a programme that talked or focused on the rise of insecurity in Brazzaville.  Immediately the said programme was over, the following day, he (Paul Soni-BENGA) was convocated at the Police Headquarters by General Jean François NDENGUET. Paul Soni-BENGA was not only interrogated brutally, he was threatened by General Jean François NDENGEUT, who promised to kill him and nothing will happen to him (General Jean François NDENGUET). General Jean François NDENGUET could threaten to kill Paul Soni-Benga as he did and nothing will happen to him because it is normal in Congo under Denis Sassou Nguesso for journalists to be threatened at best. But the truth is that, the assassination of journalists in Congo by the security forces is not an alien thing. It has always happened, even though not regularly. However, what are common in Congo are threats to journalists or suspension and outright banning of media houses, especially newspapers that don’t praise, promote or defend either the government or members of the ruling family and in chief, the President of the Republic or Jean Dominique Okemba.

The well known case of assassination of a journalist in Congo is that of Bruno Jacquet Ossebi of Franco-Congolese nationality. He was killed in an atrocious manner by the security forces on the 2^nd of February 2009 because of his investigative reporting. Bruno Ossebi’s assassins have never been found nor prosecuted. Bruno Jacquet Ossebi who was born on the 10^th of December 1964 in France and to kill him, he was locked up in his home, fuel poured around his home and then it was set ablaze. He was burnt alive in his home where his two children died from burns. But he did not die immediately. He sustained serious burns.  He was taken to the Brazzaville Pierre Mobengo military hospital. However, instead of being given medical attention, he was killed. People who do not know Congolese governing elite will not believe that, the well mannered and sugar coated speeches will able to carry out atrocious acts as they have done on Ossebi and others. For the governing elite in Congo area refined lot. They seldom speak English but they almost all, speak fluent French and want to behave like French politicians. But it is just a coat of paint. In reality, they (elite in Congo) are a people who have bestial behaviors. They don’t entertain contradictions.