The death of a radio journalist last month has drawn the attention of much of the country, and the Cameroonian government has retaliated against international media coverage of the incident.
Arsène Salomon Mbani Zogo’s murder, according to government spokesman Rene Emmanuel Sadi, is now being used as a pretext to put the state of Cameroon itself on trial. He specifically cited Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and the French publication Le Monde as the main offenders.
After more than three weeks, it was the government’s first statement to the public regarding the matter.
On January 17, unidentified assailants kidnapped Zogo from a police station in Yaoundé’s suburbs.
He was discovered dead five days later with obvious traces of a violent assault on his body.
Then Jean-Pierre Amougou Belinga, a powerful businessman, was detained in Yaoundé two weeks later on suspicion of taking part in the murder.
He was well connected to various ministers and top government figures.
One of the foundations of the Cameroonian government, Minister Laurent Esso, is under danger, according to RSF, which protects journalists’ rights. Since 1996, Esso has served as the cabinet of Paul Biya’s Justice Minister.
