Cameroon: Journalists Detained Over Alamine Mey Glasses

• Four Cameroonian journalists were detained in Yaoundé on September 16, 2026, on suspicion of stealing glasses belonging to Minister Alamine Ousmane Mey.
• The journalists, including François Essomba and Igor Gwet Bibey, were held for five days, despite the minister's glasses being found in his own vehicle.
• Their detention was prolonged under the revised justification of "unauthorized intrusion," though no formal charges were ever filed, and no prosecution occurred.
• Organizations like SPIC and Redhac condemned the detention as abusive and arbitrary, sparking renewed debate on press freedom in Cameroon.

This episode serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing risks faced by journalists in the country, where the threat of arbitrary detention can loom even in the absence of concrete evidence or official charges.

On September 16, 2026, four journalists were taken into custody in Yaoundé, Cameroon, following an unusual accusation involving the alleged theft of glasses belonging to Alamine Ousmane Mey, the Minister of Economy, Planning, and Regional Development (MINEPAT). The incident occurred at the Palais des Congrès de Yaoundé during the closing ceremonies of the BID days, an event presided over by Minister Mey himself. The journalists, identified as François Essomba from Chine Afrique, Igor Gwet Bibey of Inform Plus, Solange Djuikam representing Univers Info, and Pierre Mouchili from Le Procès International, were initially held under suspicion related to the minister's missing eyewear.

This detention of Cameroon journalists over Alamine Mey's glasses sparked immediate concern, particularly given the high-profile nature of the individuals involved. The initial suspicion of theft quickly led to their placement in police custody, marking the beginning of a five-day ordeal that would draw significant attention to press freedom issues in the nation. The circumstances surrounding their apprehension, at a public event attended by a government minister, raised questions about the proportionality of the response to a mere suspicion.

Despite the initial grounds for their detention, the minister's glasses were swiftly located, not stolen, but rather misplaced within his own personal vehicle. This discovery, which effectively nullified the original suspicion of theft, did not immediately lead to the journalists' release. Instead, their detention was prolonged, with authorities citing "unauthorized intrusion" as the revised justification for holding them. This shift in reasoning, occurring after the primary accusation was disproven, highlighted the precarious legal position of the detained individuals.

The four Yaoundé journalists, including François Essomba and Igor Gwet Bibey, were ultimately released on September 21, 2026, after spending five days in custody. Crucially, no formal charges were ever filed against them, and no prosecutions ensued from the incident. This outcome underscores the arbitrary nature of their prolonged detention, as the initial premise for their arrest was debunked, and the subsequent justification did not lead to any legal proceedings. The minister's communication further clarified that no official complaint had been lodged regarding the alleged theft, adding another layer of ambiguity to the entire affair.

The Alamine Ousmane Mey incident has significantly reignited the ongoing debate surrounding press freedom in Cameroon. Organizations such as SPIC and Redhac were quick to condemn the detention of the journalists, labeling it as both "abusive and arbitrary." Their statements reflect a broader concern about the potential for state overreach and the vulnerability of media professionals to detention without clear legal grounds or formal complaints.

This episode serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing risks faced by journalists in the country, where the threat of arbitrary detention can loom even in the absence of concrete evidence or official charges. The detention of these Cameroon journalists, initially over Alamine Mey's glasses and then for an "unauthorized intrusion" that never resulted in prosecution, exemplifies the challenges to a free press and the need for robust protections for media workers. It reinforces the fragility of press freedom in the region and the importance of vigilance against actions that can stifle independent reporting.

This incident highlights the ongoing risks of arbitrary detention for journalists in Cameroon, even in the absence of formal complaints or clear legal grounds. Lawyers advising media clients or human rights organizations should note the potential for state overreach and the need for robust legal defense against such actions, reinforcing the fragility of press freedom in the region.

Source: Original reporting via Actu Cameroun