2024-05-01 06:02:34
This is news that shakes the Cameroonian media world. Yesterday, April 29, 2024, the Publication Director (DP) of the Diapason newspaper, François Mboke, was almost kidnapped by uniformed gendarmes who burst into the premises of his newspaper. A disturbing incident which raises many questions about press freedom in Cameroon.
A shocking outburst and unanswered questions
According to witnesses, the gendarmes arrived around 2 p.m., insistently looking for François Mboke. Faced with surprised neighbors who told them that the DP was in a conference in Nkolbisson, the police asked for their return times, refusing to provide any explanation for their presence. A silence which leaves doubt about their true intentions.
A failed kidnapping plan?
Disturbing fact: until now, François Mboke has received neither summons nor appeal. No one knows which unit these gendarmes came from, who refused to give their identity. As Emmanuel Ekouli, Treasurer of the Network of Press Owners of Cameroon (REPAC) and Representative of Reporters Without Borders (RSF), points out, everything suggests that it was a kidnapping attempt which failed.
The Diapason DP is not an ordinary journalist. Based in Yaoundé, he is a respected figure in the Cameroonian media landscape. In addition to running his newspaper, he chairs REPAC, an influential body which brings together the country’s press bosses. A position which gives him great visibility and a certain influence.
A serious attack on press freedom
This incident occurs on the eve of International Press Freedom Day, a disturbing coincidence that raises serious questions. As 237online.com notes, this attempted kidnapping is a serious attack on freedom of the press, an essential pillar of any democracy. If renowned journalists like François Mboke are no longer safe, the entire media structure is under threat.
A call for vigilance and mobilization
Faced with this alarming situation, Emmanuel Ekouli calls for a “ increased alertness“. Media professionals, but also all citizens committed to freedom of expression, must mobilize to denounce these abuses and protect journalists. Because without a free and independent press, democracy itself is in danger.
This attempted kidnapping of François Mboke is a warning signal that must not be ignored. It is time for the Cameroonian authorities to take concrete measures to guarantee the safety of journalists and respect for press freedom. This is a sine qua non condition for building a fairer, more transparent and more democratic Cameroon.