SECTOR 1 Scores: Individual scores: 1 Country does not meet indicator 2 Country meets only a few aspects of indicator 3 Country meets some aspects of indicator 4 Country meets most aspects of indicator 5 Country meets all aspects of the indicator Average score: 4.8 1.7 Confidential sources of information are protected by law and/or the courts. In practise, the protection of these sources remains a battle. Media professionals organised a special march in 1996 to oppose what was referred to as the “Mende Bill”, which aimed at including a clause to the law that would require journalists to reveal their sources. At the time, Lambert Mende, current Minister of Communications, was senior advisor of the Republic (Deputy) at the High Council of the Republic – Parliament of Transition (HCR-PT). One year earlier, the Mbanza Ngungu (Lower Congo Province) District Court had condemned a journalist to five months prison and payment of a fine of US$5,000 for having refused to disclose his sources. In order “to enlighten the Court”, the judges continue to require that journalists brought in front of them disclose their sources. These journalists are often found guilty when they refuse to disclose their sources, basing themselves instead solely on the provisions of article 8 of their Code of Ethics. 80 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER Democratic Republic of Congo