Bruno Bidjang: Interdiction Sortie Cameroun Confirmed Amid Martinez Zogo Case

• Cameroonian journalist Bruno Bidjang was reportedly prevented from leaving the country from Yaoundé Nsimalen International Airport in early September 2026.
• The travel ban, an interdiction sortie Cameroun, was reportedly issued by former Government Commissioner Belinga Cerlin under "très hautes instructions."
• This measure is linked to Bidjang's indictment for "conspiration de torture, d'arrestation et de séquestration" in the Affaire Martinez Zogo, a journalist assassinated in 2023.
• Despite being on conditional release after serving a separate sentence in 2024, judicial authorities imposed the ban to ensure his presence for the ongoing trial at the tribunal militaire Yaoundé.
• Belinga Cerlin, who had previously allowed Bidjang to travel, was reportedly removed from his post shortly after enforcing the ban due to the "hautes instructions." He was transferred by presidential decree on August 31, 2026, and replaced by André Eric Atemengue Omgba.

This specific detail suggests the potential for external influence to bear upon judicial decisions, a critical consideration for legal professionals advising clients on their rights and obligations concerning movement restrictions.

Bruno Bidjang, a prominent Cameroonian journalist and former personality at Vision 4, has reportedly been subjected to a travel ban, preventing his departure from the country. The alleged incident unfolded when Bidjang attempted to leave from Yaoundé Nsimalen International Airport, with plans to journey to China for the purpose of acquiring essential equipment for his television channel. Security forces at the airport reportedly intercepted him, enforcing an interdiction sortie Cameroun.

This restriction on his international movement is said to have been implemented in early September 2026. Journalist Boris Bertolt indicated that the directive originated from Belinga Cerlin, who served as the former Government Commissioner near the tribunal militaire Yaoundé. As of now, Bidjang himself has not issued any public statement or clarification regarding these reports concerning his inability to exit Cameroonian territory.

The administrative measure prohibiting Bruno Bidjang from traveling abroad is inextricably linked to his ongoing legal proceedings in the high-profile Affaire Martinez Zogo Bruno Bidjang. Martinez Zogo, a fellow journalist, was tragically murdered in 2023, and Bidjang faces serious charges of "conspiration de torture, d'arrestation et de séquestration" in connection with the case. Although he has already served a separate sentence in 2024 and is currently appearing freely in the ongoing judicial process, authorities have reportedly imposed the Bruno Bidjang travel ban Cameroon. This restriction is intended to guarantee his continued presence for the progression of the trial, ensuring he remains within the jurisdiction.

Under the terms of his provisional release, Bidjang was, in fact, obligated to seek explicit authorization from the military tribunal before any departure from the national territory. This requirement highlights the significant judicial oversight that remains in place even when defendants are not held in physical custody, allowing courts to manage their movements to prevent flight risk.

The decision to impose the travel restriction on Bruno Bidjang underscores the extensive discretionary powers vested in judicial authorities within Cameroon, particularly when dealing with cases of national significance such as the Cameroun justice Martinez Zogo investigation. Journalist Boris Bertolt reported that the interdiction sortie Cameroun was issued by Belinga Cerlin, then the Government Commissioner, acting under "très hautes instructions." This specific detail suggests the potential for external influence to bear upon judicial decisions, a critical consideration for legal professionals advising clients on their rights and obligations concerning movement restrictions.

It is noteworthy that Belinga Cerlin had previously granted Bidjang permission for international travel on other occasions. However, he was reportedly unable to extend this favor again due to these "hautes instructions," a situation that reportedly led to his removal from the Government Commissioner post just days later. Lieutenant-Colonel Cerlin Belinga, who was the Government Commissioner near the Military Tribunal of Yaoundé, was transferred to Maroua by a presidential decree signed on August 31, 2026, and replaced by Lieutenant-Colonel André Eric Atemengue Omgba. The repercussions of this situation also affected Bidjang's family, as his wife, Ivana Essomba, was compelled to travel to China without him. She is now reportedly making a hasty return to Cameroon, responding to recent changes and developments at the military tribunal, further illustrating the dynamic and often unpredictable legal landscape surrounding this complex case.

This case illustrates the potential for judicial authorities in Cameroon to impose administrative travel bans on individuals involved in high-profile criminal proceedings, even when on conditional release, highlighting the broad discretionary powers and potential for external influence ('hautes instructions') that lawyers must consider when advising clients on their rights and obligations regarding movement restrictions.

Source: Original reporting via Actu Cameroun