Christian Bosembe, the head of the broadcasting authority in the Democratic Republic of Congo (CSAC), was attacked in Paris on the night of 1 April while on a tour to meet European media and francophone institutions. The assault was carried out by members of the Congolese diaspora, who filmed the incident and later posted the video on social media. Bosembe told RFI that the attack amounted to an “attempted kidnapping and assassination” and that he is awaiting French justice. “The attackers are known; they must be arrested and prosecuted,” he said.
Bosembe and his adviser were returning to their hotel in Argenteuil, about ten kilometres north‑west of Paris, when several men confronted them in the parking lot. The assailants shouted at him in Lingala, identified themselves as “combattants” – a term used for militants opposed to the current Congolese government – and insulted him, calling him a “collabo,” a derogatory label for those perceived as collaborating with the regime. During the assault, Bosembe fought back, as shown in the viral video.
The president of the CSAC had been on an official visit to Schengen countries since 31 March, beginning in Paris. The trip was intended to strengthen ties between the CSAC and broadcasting bodies and francophone organizations such as Canal+, Radio France Internationale, France 24, and the Organisation internationale de la francophonie.
In the DRC, the attack sparked outrage. The CSAC convened on Sunday and issued a statement demanding “clarifications” from French authorities. Serge Ndjibu, speaking to RFI’s correspondent in Kinshasa, Pascal Mulegwa, condemned the “brutal and cowardly” assault on a democracy‑supporting official and called it an attempted murder. He urged France to arrest, try, and condemn the perpetrators.
Congolese Minister of Communication Patrick Muyaya also condemned the attack, stating that DRC authorities would cooperate with France to ensure justice is served.
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