Cameroon: Journalists Arbitrarily Detained Over Alamine Mey's Glasses

• Four Cameroonian journalists, including Solange Djuikam, François Essomba, Igor Gwet Bibey, and Pierre Mouchili, were arbitrarily detained for several days in September on suspicion of stealing Economy Minister Alamine Ousmane Mey's glasses.
• The journalists were released without charge after the minister's glasses were found in his own car, with government spokesperson René Emmanuel Sadi attributing the detentions to "excessive zeal" by security forces.
• During their detention, the journalists reported being held in overcrowded cells with unsanitary conditions and faced accusations of not being legitimate reporters or attempting to extort the minister.
• The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemned the incident as an "inexcusable abuse" of media professionals, highlighting the perilous reality for journalists in Cameroon.
• The National Trade Union of Information and Communication Professionals (SPIC) announced a boycott of Minister Mey's events and called for accountability, underscoring ongoing concerns about media freedom and police conduct in Cameroon.

The experience of these four journalists underscores the precarious environment for media professionals in Cameroon, where arbitrary detention and potential abuse of power by authorities remain significant concerns.

Four Cameroonian journalists faced arbitrary detention in September, accused of stealing the glasses of Economy Minister Alamine Ousmane Mey. The incident, which sparked calls for a boycott of the minister's events, saw the media professionals held for multiple nights before their release without any charges being filed. Solange Djuikam, publishing director of Univers Info Net, was detained for seven nights, while François Essomba of ChinAfrica newspaper, Igor Gwet Bibey of Inform Plus, and Pierre Mouchili of Le Procès International were held for five nights.

The saga began on September 14 when Djuikam was arrested by two women identifying as police officers. She was accused of taking Minister Mey's glasses at the start of a three-day Islamic Development Bank conference in Yaoundé. Two days later, on September 16, Essomba, Bibey, and Mouchili were also apprehended on similar suspicions related to the conference center. However, the minister's glasses were subsequently located in his own car later that same day, a fact confirmed by local media citing the ministry's communications unit and Thierry Eba, president of the National Trade Union of Information and Communication Professionals (SPIC).

The detained journalists recounted harrowing experiences during their time in custody. They reported being held in overcrowded police cells that lacked basic amenities, including water, and featured clogged toilets and flea infestations. Solange Djuikam, for instance, was transported by motorcycle to a local police station before being transferred to Yaoundé Central Police Station, all without being permitted to contact her family. She was brought before a court on September 18, but the prosecutor returned her to police custody, requesting further investigations.

Beyond the physical conditions, the journalists also faced baseless accusations. Djuikam stated that one arresting officer threatened her, saying she would "pay" for the alleged theft, and questioned her legitimacy as a journalist. Pierre Mouchili informed Canal 2 that a police investigator accused him of attending the conference with the intention of "squeezing money out of the minister." Government spokesperson René Emmanuel Sadi later met with the journalists and SPIC officials on September 23, describing the situation as an "unfortunate incident resulting from some security forces officers' excessive zeal." Sadi clarified to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) that Minister Mey had not ordered the arrests and pledged to investigate the police conduct and take appropriate action, assuring that the journalists would not be prosecuted.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has strongly condemned the arbitrary detention of these media professionals, urging Cameroonian authorities to hold those responsible accountable. Moussa Ngom, CPJ's Francophone Africa representative, emphasized that the experience of François Essomba, Igor Gwet Bibey, Solange Djuikam, and Pierre Mouchili tragically illustrates the perilous reality for journalists in Cameroon, where routine reporting can quickly escalate into a nightmare. Ngom called on authorities to identify those behind this "inexcusable abuse" and ensure the protection of journalists' rights and dignity in their professional duties.

In response to the incident, SPIC announced a boycott of coverage of Minister Mey's events, condemning the "arbitrary arrest and detention of media professionals in the course of their work based on mere suspicion." Despite government assurances that the journalists would not face prosecution, the CPJ sought further comment from national police chief Martin Mbarga Nguélé regarding the detentions. Although a staff member of Nguélé's office requested the CPJ send a letter, no response had been received at the time of publication, leaving questions about accountability unanswered.

This incident highlights the significant risks of arbitrary detention and potential abuse of power by authorities in Cameroon, particularly for media professionals. The swift arrests, prolonged detention without charge, and the eventual discovery of the allegedly stolen item in the minister's own possession underscore a troubling disregard for due process and press freedom. The experience of these four journalists underscores the precarious environment for media professionals in Cameroon, where arbitrary detention and potential abuse of power by authorities remain significant concerns.

Lawyers advising clients operating in or traveling to Cameroon should be acutely aware of these human rights concerns and the volatile legal environment. The case of the Cameroon journalists' arbitrary detention involving Alamine Mey serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by those seeking to report independently, and the ongoing need for robust protections against Cameroon media freedom violations and police abuse of power.

This incident highlights the significant risks of arbitrary detention and potential abuse of power by authorities in Cameroon, particularly for media professionals. Lawyers advising clients operating in or traveling to Cameroon should be aware of these human rights concerns and the volatile legal environment.

Source: Original reporting via Committee to Protect Journalists