A triumph for Reporters Without Borders (RSF), which contributed to his release on 20 December.
The director of publication Emmanuel Mbombog Mbog Matip is free. After 16 months in detention, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) welcomes his release but fears new legal proceedings against the journalist. "We are relieved to see this journalist who lost a year and a half of his life finally regain his freedom. We now hope that the Cameroonian authorities will choose to repair the immense damage he suffered rather than mount a new unfounded procedure against him, especially after the acquittal pronounced by the military court. " said Arnaud Froger, the head of RSF's Africa desk.
Freedom of the press: Cameroon is singled out
Freedom of the press is at risk in this nation that prides itself on having diverse media. Radio and TV waves abound with stations. But this state is accused of hunting down journalists. Justice multiplies prosecutions for facts such as the collection and research of data. Radio, TV, and even social media are closely monitored by government brigades.
For the record, the boss of Climat Social was arrested by six soldiers at his home on August 17, 2020. The media man was conducting an investigation into a possible coup in the country. There was also a case of theft of luxury cars from Togo. On 13 December of the same year, he was acquitted. The Yaoundé military court ordered his immediate release for "lack of evidence". However, the journalist will be kept in prison for no apparent reason.
According to RSF, Cameroon has fallen one place and now ranks 135th out of 180 countries in the 2021 World Press Freedom Index.
