MRC: Plainte Salomon Beas Diffamation Cameroun Filed

• The Mouvement pour la Renaissance du Cameroun (MRC) has filed a complaint against Salomon Beas and Hervé Ulrich Ngoko Kamgang for alleged online defamation.
• Salomon Beas claimed the MRC plotted against Samuel Eto'o and funded influencers to tarnish his image, which the party denies.
• The MRC initiated an urgent summary proceeding (`référé d'heure à heure`) at the Douala Bonanjo court.
• The legal action demands the deposit of evidence for the claims and immediate removal of the content under penalty if evidence is not provided.
• This case highlights the use of swift legal remedies by political parties in Cameroon to address online defamation and perceived abuses of freedom of expression.

The proceedings underscore the potential for individuals making claims on social media to face immediate legal demands for substantiation or content removal.

The Mouvement pour la Renaissance du Cameroun (MRC) has formally announced legal proceedings against Salomon Beas, a former activist associated with the party. This action stems from an interview broadcast on September 18, 2026, during which Mr. Beas made several significant allegations concerning the MRC's activities. Specifically, he claimed that the party's directoire held meetings with the explicit aim of "destroying" Samuel Eto'o, who serves as the president of the Fecafoot. Furthermore, Mr. Beas asserted that the MRC had financially supported various influencers to damage Mr. Eto'o's public image. He suggested that the origins of this animosity could be traced back to the 2018 presidential election, an event where Samuel Eto'o publicly endorsed Paul Biya. In response to these statements, the MRC vehemently rejected all allegations, characterizing them as both serious and entirely unfounded. The party also clarified that Salomon Beas was never a member of its directoire, directly refuting his implied insider knowledge. Mamadou Mota, who resigned as the MRC's first vice-president on September 8, 2026, confirmed the party's intention to file a complaint against Mr. Beas regarding these accusations.

The Collective Sylvain SOUOP publicly announced the commencement of the initial hearing in this case, scheduled as an urgent summary proceeding, known in Cameroon as a `référé d'heure à heure`. This hearing is set to take place before the President of the Tribunal de Première Instance de Douala Bonanjo. The legal action is specifically directed against Salomon Beas, identified as the originator of the controversial declarations, and Hervé Ulrich Ngoko Kamgang, who is cited as the individual responsible for creating and disseminating the content online.

The request for this urgent judicial intervention was filed by Dame Tiriane Balbine Nadège Noah, the interim President of the MRC, acting on behalf of the party, its directoire, its members, and its sympathizers, following the resignation of the previous president on September 8, 2026. Additionally, Professor Maurice Kamto, who resigned as the MRC's national president on September 8, 2026, is also listed as a party to the request. The primary objective of this immediate legal step is to compel the defendants to deposit, at the court's registry, all evidentiary materials related to the incriminatory statements made by Mr. Beas and subsequently spread online by Mr. Ngoko Kamgang since September.

The MRC's legal strategy, through this `référé d'heure à heure` in Douala, aims to ensure public access to the alleged evidence. This transparency is intended to allow the parties claiming to be victims of these statements to thoroughly examine the materials, effectively exercise their right of reply, and pursue any other rights available to those affected by an `abus de la liberté d'expression ou de communication`. This approach underscores the party's commitment to addressing online defamation in Cameroon through formal legal channels.

Beyond the demand for evidence, the tribunal has also been asked to issue an order for the immediate, partial, or complete removal of the contested online content. This removal would be enforced under a substantial daily penalty (`astreinte forte`) should the named individuals fail to comply or provide the requested substantiation. It is important to note that this urgent proceeding is distinct from any future determination of damages, which would fall under the purview of a separate, competent jurisdiction that has not yet been engaged. The legal documents initiating this instance were duly served and received by both Salomon Beas and Hervé Ulrich Ngoko Kamgang, ensuring their awareness of the forthcoming adversarial debates.

This legal challenge, involving the Mouvement pour la Renaissance du Cameroun and allegations concerning Samuel Eto'o, carries significant implications for the landscape of online defamation and freedom of expression in Cameroon. The MRC's decision to utilize a `plainte Salomon Beas diffamation Cameroun` through an urgent `référé d'heure à heure` procedure demonstrates a proactive stance by a political party against what it perceives as unsubstantiated public allegations disseminated via social media.

The proceedings underscore the potential for individuals making claims on social media to face immediate legal demands for substantiation or content removal. This case serves as a crucial precedent for lawyers advising clients on social media content in Cameroon, highlighting the swift legal recourse available to political entities and high-profile figures against perceived `abus liberté d'expression Cameroun`. It emphasizes that online discourse, particularly when it involves sensitive political matters or prominent personalities, is subject to robust legal scrutiny and potential judicial intervention.

Lawyers advising clients on freedom of expression and social media content in Cameroon should note this case as it demonstrates a political party's use of urgent legal procedures (référé d'heure à heure) to combat online defamation. It highlights the potential for swift legal action, including demands for evidence and content removal under penalty, against individuals making unsubstantiated public allegations.

Source: Original reporting via Actu Cameroun