DRC Journalist Detained Since January, Colleague in Hiding After Cobalt Mining Report

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has urged authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to release journalist Stéphane Shisso, who has been detained since January, and ensure the safety of his colleague Guelord Shamba, who is currently in hiding. Shisso, a camera operator for Nyota TV, was arrested by presidential guard soldiers on January 6, 2026, after reporting on environmental erosion caused by cobalt mining in Kolwezi. He was transferred from Lubumbashi to Kinshasa and remains held without charge or court appearance, violating constitutional rights. Shamba fled into hiding due to fears of arrest or attack following the controversial report, which criticized local authorities' inaction. The report highlights the intersection of press freedom violations and human rights abuses linked to the global cobalt supply chain. Despite CPJ's appeals and media reports confirming Shisso's location in Ndolo military prison, government officials have not commented. The case underscores the risks faced by journalists investigating corporate and governmental misconduct in resource-rich regions of the DRC.