Another journalist arrested in Cameroon

Raphael Nkamtchuen editor of La Boussole, a daily newspaper published in Cameroon has been arrested by the military police on the 17 February after a friendly visit to a former economics and finance minister Abah Abah who is in detention and accused of corruption and embezzlement.

 Raphael has a permission to visit the prisoner in jail and after his visit he was arrested according to his wife Mrs Etchong Nguinda Michelle.


 Speaking on the phone, she said that her husband has spent three days without having a shower and even has to spent the night sleeping on the ground floor and no familial visit is allowed since he was detained by the military police in Kondengui region in the capital city of Cameroon.

He has been facing tough interrogation about documents that have been given to him by the former government minister, mental torture and human rights abuses are been used against him.

Authorities want him to release documents that he was given by the former minister now prisoner and awaiting final decision from his trial that still pending.

In Cameroon in order to visit someone in prison you must have a visit permit delivered by the department of justice and the editor according to his wife has that permit.

 It said that Raphael has been giving confidential documents that could bring alight more details about corruption in the heart of Biya regime and it is why he is been held without charges in detention.

 This is another blow for the freedom of information in Cameroon and also for investigative journalism that still danger to practice under Biya 29`s year reign.

Many journalist associations around the world now are asking for his immediate release from unlawful arrest and arbitrary detention.

Biya`s regime forced to publish spending data

The government administration in Cameroon for more than 20 years of Biya regime has never provided accurate and up to date records of spending data.Opposition in Cameroon will now try to draw a draft of proposal law that will oblige and force the government to release these records.

What the government normally hand out during the finances bill exam to the members of the parliament has nothing as detailed information on it. It will be an important step for the administration accountability and responsibility to provide such details to the public.

Will Philemon
succeed where Inoni failed?

Even Philemon Yang the prime minister in Cameroon at the moment has no idea about who are or will be the government biggest suppliers.

The government is now forced by the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and members of Le Club de Paris to publish a list of its biggest suppliers by the end of this year before the presidential election.

This action they said, might have a huge impact on the credibility of Biya and his administration. It will show the transparency and accountability of his regime. The non publication of such information will show that the regime is hiding some crucial information that have been manipulated or trying to change some information in favor of themselves..

Me Akere Muna, vice president of Transparency International branch in Cameroon on the move to force the government to release spending data said < Is it right to force the government to publish a list of its biggest suppliers, indeed it will help because the government is spending way too much. Much of this money is wasted. Thankfully the move will encourage people to pay taxes with confidence..>

Philemon Yang today has the opportunity to show the International Community that, the government by publishing the list of its biggest suppliers, enter in the new area of accountability, transparency and responsibility.

Its drive to make public spending more accountable. Government minister of Biya`s regime must have the constitutional and moral obligation to publish the spending data of their respective department. For a transparent government it is good to know who is the biggest suppliers and who are behind these companies and what are they doing the promote for example transparency themselves..

Momo, an insurer working in Cameroon also said < The transparency will help me form an opinion, It will help me find out what my government is spending on and determine if i like it or not and now i can see where the money is being spent as well..>

The data that will be published should cover the last 13 years and the government must make this available for a large public and also provide a safe environment for those who will access these information.All this to help the public understand where the money is being spent and who are the winners and losers.

 Opposition its said is ready to appreciate the move while others critics are still sceptical about the government real intention. The move will hold the government to account for its spending activities.