Media crackdown in Cameroon

The government in Cameroon is intent on controlling all sources of alternative knowledge and information ahead of the presidential election and the machiavelllian Biya`s administration machine is now in intensive action...

Cameroon`s vibrant independent media sector has been dealt a series of blows in the run up to the next year critical and important presidential election, with some Tv stations ordered to shut down, if they do not obey the rule and the law, Radio Television Siantou forced to review his editorial position,

Alex Azebaze, Snjc


Equinox in Douala has seen some journalists sanctioned and moved from one desk to another and even sent on special assignment, 

Magic Fm intimidated with his daily critic political and satirical program, Radio Reine has received strange visitors when one of his popular political analysis program was on air and the journalist forced to rewrite some questions to be asked to panelists,

Jean Baptiste Sipa, former columnist and newly editor responsible for  Le Messager had his mobile phone taped, Alex Gustave Azebaze, now acting as the first secretary of the leading journalists trade union in Cameroon has his mobile phone taped and also has been summoned to the police after taking part in a talkshow on radio.

Jean Bosco Talla, editor of Germinal, was refused visa to attend an award ceremony in Geneva recently by the Switzerland Ambassy in cameroon,

critical talk shows hauled off air, outspoken columnists and editors forced out of their jobs and bribed to stay away for a while, and above all, a new regulations in secret talks between the communication minister Issa Tchiroma, and the security council chief executive Atanga Nji, will see bringing mass text messaging and live broadcasts firmly under state control.

Jean Bosco Talla, Germinal editor, recently released from prison after paying millions of Cfa francs, denied exit from Cameroon last month


  Live broadcasting will see a new regulations adopted and implemented straight away as a signal to those who use more and more international critical correspondents during their on live program..

Despite government assurances that in Cameroon with over 600 registered newspapers ( from the press for the freedom of expression in late 1990 entrance and move to the democracy period...) and 250 published yearly, hundreds of private radio station, freedom of expression will not be restricted as the country prepares to enter a 10 critical months period of intense political uncertainty.

In a damning report on government repression, Amnesty International said: " The pattern being established is one that is already familiar from previous elections, which were carried out amid serious human rights violations....." 

The  biggest journalists trade union and human rights activists and groups have already criticised that the so called climate of terror  created by the state. 

In this political uncertainty and social environment of terror, dissidents voices are going to be systematically excluded and silenced with all means by the state from public debate.