The head of the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Higher Council for Audiovisual and Communication (CSAC), Christian Bosembe, has declared war on digital platforms enabling rebel propaganda. He announced plans to block TikTok accounts actively spreading messages from the AFC-M23 rebellion, which Kinshasa accuses of destabilizing the region.
The CSAC chief condemned what he called a dangerous oversight, arguing that platforms like TikTok are granting a digital megaphone to individuals like Corneille Nangaa, whom the government labels a terrorist figure fueling civilian violence in eastern DRC. ‘No sovereign state should tolerate foreign propaganda that incites terror on its soil,’ Bosembe asserted.
Why the crackdown on tiktok isn’t just about censorship
Bosembe drew parallels to international norms, questioning whether platforms in other countries would allow accounts linked to groups like Hezbollah or Al-Qaeda to operate freely. ‘Would the United States host an Al-Qaeda account? Would France permit a Hezbollah presence?’ he argued, implying the DRC’s tolerance for rebel propaganda is an anomaly. ‘The silence from TikTok on this matter is unacceptable.’
For Kinshasa, cutting off these digital channels is not just about control—it’s a matter of national security. The AFC-M23 rebellion, accused of mass civilian killings and resource plundering with alleged Rwandan backing, relies heavily on social media to spread its narrative. The CSAC sees this as a direct threat to Congo’s stability and sovereignty.
Gabon’s precedent and the fight for digital sovereignty
The regulator isn’t acting in isolation. Citing Gabon’s decision to ban TikTok earlier this year, Bosembe framed the move as part of a broader push to reclaim digital space from platforms that, he claims, prioritize engagement over safety. ‘A state that respects itself must act,’ he stated. ‘Closing these networks isn’t censorship—it’s survival.’
The CSAC’s stance highlights a growing tension in the DRC’s conflict: the battle isn’t just fought on battlefields but in the digital realm. As rebel propaganda floods platforms, Kinshasa is pushing back, signaling a potential shift in how the country regulates social media during wartime.
