SPIC Demands Reparations From Alamine Ousmane Mey Over Journalists' Detention

• The National Union of Information and Communication Professionals (SPIC) has demanded reparations from Cameroon's Minister Alamine Ousmane Mey following the arbitrary detention of four journalists.
• Journalists François Essomba, Igor Gwet Bibey, Solange Djuikam, and Pierre Mouchili were held for nearly a week in degrading conditions at Central Police Station No. 1 in Yaoundé.
• SPIC has called for an indefinite boycott of all events organized by Minister Mey's ministry, starting September 22, 2026.
• SPIC President Thierry Eba reserves the right to pursue legal action if the journalists' examination results are unfavorable and plans to escalate the case internationally, citing violations of international human rights law.
• The union condemns the arbitrary arrests and detentions of media professionals performing their duties based on mere suspicion.

The SPIC has unequivocally condemned these arbitrary arrests and detentions of media professionals, emphasizing that they occurred while the journalists were actively performing their duties, based solely on elements of suspicion.

The National Union of Information and Communication Professionals (SPIC) has formally demanded reparations from Cameroon's Minister of Economy, Planning, and Regional Development (Minepat), Alamine Ousmane Mey. This call, issued through a declaration by SPIC's national president, Thierry Eba, on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, addresses the severe harm inflicted upon four journalists who were held in custody under what the union describes as degrading and dehumanizing conditions.

The demand follows the detention of François Essomba, Igor Gwet Bibey, Solange Djuikam, and Pierre Mouchili for nearly a week. These journalists were confined within the cells of Central Police Station No. 1 in Yaoundé. The SPIC's action highlights significant concerns regarding the treatment of media professionals in Cameroon and seeks accountability for their arbitrary detention.

In an immediate and decisive response, the SPIC has also initiated a widespread boycott. Starting from the same date, September 22, 2026, and continuing indefinitely, all media professionals are urged to systematically abstain from participating in any events organized by Minister Alamine Ousmane Mey's ministry. This collective action underscores the union's grave concerns and serves as a direct protest against the perceived abuses.

The four journalists, François Essomba, Igor Gwet Bibey, Solange Djuikam, and Pierre Mouchili, endured nearly a week of detention at Central Police Station No. 1 in Yaoundé. The SPIC has voiced profound concerns regarding the health status of these individuals, emphasizing that their confinement was arbitrary and occurred in cells that failed to meet basic hygiene standards or the norms prescribed by international human rights law.

The union unequivocally condemns these arrests and detentions, asserting that they targeted media professionals actively engaged in their duties, based solely on suspicion. Such actions, according to the SPIC, represent a clear violation of established legal and ethical principles governing press freedom and human rights. The conditions of their detention have been specifically cited as degrading and dehumanizing, prompting the urgent call for reparations.

Thierry Eba, the national president of the SPIC, has indicated the union's readiness to pursue further legal avenues. The SPIC reserves the right to initiate judicial proceedings should the outcomes of various examinations conducted on François Essomba, Igor Gwet Bibey, Solange Djuikam, and Pierre Mouchili prove unsatisfactory. This stance signals a potential escalation of the matter into formal legal action against the Cameroonian authorities.

Furthermore, Eba has pledged to elevate this case to the highest international levels, leveraging international human rights law. He intends to collaborate closely with human rights organizations and bodies dedicated to protecting the rights of press professionals. This concerted effort aims to halt what the SPIC characterizes as systemic abuses by public order authorities, underscoring a commitment to ensuring accountability and upholding press freedom in Cameroon.

This development signals potential legal challenges against Cameroonian authorities for arbitrary detention and human rights violations, particularly concerning press freedom. Lawyers advising media clients or engaged in human rights advocacy in Cameroon should monitor this case for its implications on accountability and the application of international law.

Source: Original reporting via Actu Cameroun