Mongabay Afrique’s TikTok Journalist, Saïbe Kabila, has won first prize in the “One Health” category at the 2025 World Conference of Francophone Science Journalists for an investigation produced during the Mongabay Africa Environmental Journalism Fellowship.
Presented by the Network of Francophone African Science Journalists in March 2026, the award recognized Kabila’s investigation into the public health risks faced by communities consuming fish from waters polluted by mining waste in Kapolowe, in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Haut-Katanga province. The story combined scientific evidence, community reporting and an examination of how pollution affects food systems and public health.
“This is my very first international award that I have just won, and it is already special,” said Kabila. “It means a lot to me, because it is an award for effort that proves that you can start from nothing to reach the highest peaks, with willpower and passion.”
Kabila developed the story after discovering an older scientific study documenting contamination in fish from the Lufira River. While participating in the third cohort of the Mongabay Africa Environmental Journalism Fellowship, he updated the research, gathered local sources and proposed the investigation to Mongabay’s editorial team.
In 2025, Kabila was among 12 fellows selected from approximately 300 applicants for the fellowship program, which provided intensive environmental journalism training and editorial support.
“He proposed this investigation to us, which at first glance seemed complex and ambitious, but Saïbe is talented and very committed,” said Juliette Chapalain, Mongabay Africa Fellowship Editor. “He seemed capable of carrying it out.”
Chapalain said the investigation reflected Mongabay’s focus on reporting that connects environmental issues with the experiences of communities directly affected by them.
For Kabila, the story had an urgent public-interest purpose. Kapolowe is an important center for fish trade and distribution in the Katanga region, meaning contamination could affect consumers beyond the village itself.
“It was essential to raise awareness of these health risks to consumers, as this article could potentially save lives,” Kabila said.
Kabila also produced a video alongside the article, expanding the investigation’s reach through multimedia storytelling.
The competition featured 28 investigations covering topics including malaria prevention, antimicrobial resistance and extreme heat impacts. The jury praised Kabila’s use of diverse sources and the report’s emphasis on the need for water-quality research and public-health action.
“This is a major public health issue,” said Kossi Balao, president of Réseau des Journalistes Scientifiques d’Afrique Francophone (RJSAF) and director of ICFJ’s Francophone Forum. “His report doesn’t just present the facts, but also conveys the importance of conducting studies on water quality and the risks associated with consuming fish contaminated by toxic substances. It is responsible and accountable journalism.”
The award marked the first official recognition for work produced through the Mongabay Africa Fellowship Program.
After completing the fellowship, Kabila continued contributing to Mongabay Afrique through articles and videos. In March 2026, he joined the team as a TikTok and Video Journalist, helping develop Mongabay Afrique’s short-form environmental journalism strategy. Mongabay Afrique’s official TikTok channel launched in April 2026.
Impact
At age 26, Kabila’s recognition demonstrates how editorial mentorship, training and support can help early-career journalists pursue ambitious investigations rooted in local communities.
His reporting brought attention to the links between mining pollution, food safety and public health while demonstrating the value of locally led environmental journalism. The award also provides external recognition of the quality of reporting produced through the Mongabay Africa Environmental Journalism Fellowship.
Kabila’s progression from fellow to regular contributor and later to a staff role in video and social journalism reflects one way Mongabay’s efforts to support emerging reporters can create longer-term opportunities. While fellowship participation does not guarantee employment, his experience shows how sustained mentorship and strong editorial work can help journalists build deeper relationships with Mongabay and expand their work across formats, as well as Mongabay’s coverage in priority geographies like the Congo Basin.
His transition into Mongabay Afrique’s TikTok and video team also broadens the impact of that effort. The skills developed through the fellowship are now contributing to a growing social video operation designed to reach new and younger audiences across Francophone Africa.
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Banner image: Saïbe Kabila reporting from the field in Kisangani, in the north of the DRC. Image courtesy of Omar Mulende.