Jonathan Magoma

Jonathan Magoma is an investigative journalist and human rights defender from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). He is dedicated to reporting on governance and corruption, documenting human rights violations, defending press freedom, countering disinformation and hate speech. His journey into journalism began with personal tragedy, when the murder of his parents in 2005 went undocumented, shaping his conviction that stories must be told to preserve dignity and justice.

He is currently the Editor-in-Chief of Debout RDC, an independent media outlet in eastern DRC focusing on human rights, governance and accountability. After university, Jonathan joined Nobel Peace Prize laureate Denis Mukwege’s Panzi Foundation, where he worked with survivors of sexual violence in rural South Kivu. Witnessing both resilience and impunity, he realized that activists and journalists in remote areas were left unprotected despite their crucial role in exposing violations.

In 2019, he co‑founded Debout RDC (“Stand Up DRC”). Through Debout RDC, he has overseen the publication of more than 1,600 articles, documented land dispossession, corruption, sexual violence, and environmental crises, civic space and trained over 320 journalists and human rights defenders in digital and physical security.

In 2022, with support from the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung and the European Union, he led Debout RDC’s project on countering disinformation and hate speech in the Great Lakes region.

His work has resulted in threats from different sources. In February 2025, he was forced to flee his country following the occupation of his city by the AFC/M23 armed group. Ten days later, his home was attacked.

In the 2026 Berlin scholarship program, Jonathan is aiming at strengthening digital safety practices for journalists, particularly those working in conflict and remote zones, with the ambition to become an international trainer. He looks forward to exchanging with peers, building new networks, and developing strategies that will help protect those who risk their lives to report the truth.