Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Cooperation, Amb. Olivier Nduhungirehe, has publicly questioned the professional integrity of journalist Hariana Verás Victória, highlighting what he describes as bias and omissions in her reporting on issues related to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the FDLR armed group.
In a detailed statement shared on his X account, Amb. Nduhungirehe responded to Verás’s recent claims of being an independent journalist committed to accurate, unbiased reporting. Verás had written that she operates according to journalistic principles, covering politically sensitive cross-border issues while prioritizing the public interest.
Amb. Nduhungirehe countered these claims, asserting that Verás’s work shows patterns of partiality, particularly in her coverage of Rwanda-DRC relations, where she allegedly downplays or ignores FDLR activities and the collaboration between armed groups and elements of the FARDC.
“Professionalism in journalism is not only about what a journalist says; it must also be evident in the accuracy and completeness of the information reported daily,” Nduhungirehe stated.
He pointed out that Verás, originally from Angola and currently based in the United States, has repeatedly omitted critical information on conflicts in eastern DRC, including the activities of the FDLR, attacks on Tutsi communities, and human rights abuses. For instance, he noted the October 2023 attacks in Masisi, where over 300 homes of Tutsi civilians were burned by groups supported by Kinshasa, as well as the detention and public abuse of Banyamulenge in Minembwe by Burundian forces.
Amb. Nduhungirehe also criticized Verás for failing to report on inflammatory statements by Congolese military spokesperson Gen. Sylvain Ekenge and for not addressing sensitive issues in her interviews with President Félix Tshisekedi of DRC and President Évariste Ndayishimiye of Burundi, particularly regarding cross-border attacks and political interventions targeting Rwanda.
The minister concluded that Verás’s work demonstrates a lack of adherence to the ethical standards expected of professional journalists, calling for greater accountability and rigor in reporting on complex regional issues.
