Uganda: M23 rebels threaten to kill radio director

By Godfrey Olukya

ARU, Democratic Republic of Congo (AA) - Apparently unhappy with unfavorable media coverage, rebels suspected to have escaped from Uganda have threatened to kill the director of a popular radio station based in neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo as well as his family.

''I received several death threats on the phone and SMS messages from someone claiming to be an officer of M23. I recorded the threats. I fear for the safety of my family,'' Magloire Paluku, the director of Radio Kivu 1, told Anadolu Agency Wednesday.

He handed over the threatening recordings and SMSs to the local journalists NGO Journaliste en Danger as well as the police, he said.

Paluku said the threats were prompted by his station's broadcast of a report on the recent defeat of ex-M23 militants in Rutshuru.

Charles Longwa, a police intelligence officer, said they are investigating the threats.

The station is one of most popular in the area.

Last week DRC forces claimed that it defeated some 100 M23 rebels who had entered the country from Uganda.

Members of M23 fled to Uganda in 2013 after a series of defeats.