On May 8th, 2024, Tsi Conrad’s unwavering battle against tyranny was recognised by Freedom House as part of their annual awards ceremony, coinciding with Conrad’s birthday. This year’s ceremony highlighted numerous civil society figures and political prisoners around the globe.
“Today, we wish a happy birthday to Tsi Conrad, a Cameroonian journalist who has been unjustly behind bars for nearly eight years,” Freedom House wrote on X (formerly Twitter), adding, “@UN declared his imprisonment arbitrary in 2021. It is past time for his immediate release! #FreeThemAll“
Conrad’s story exemplifies the courage of a few who stand up to oppression and effect lasting change. Along with other honorees, Conrad is recognised for his dedication to creating a more just world.
On a balmy December morning in 2016, freelance journalist Tsi Conrad found himself in the crosshairs. While filming a protest in Bamenda, the capital of Cameroon’s Northwest Region, where authorities reportedly used live ammunition, Conrad was surrounded by at least 10 armed officers. They seized his camera, shattering his journalistic tool, and arrested him on fabricated anti-state charges. Following brutal interrogations and a coerced confession, Conrad faced a gruelling 18-month military trial. Despite his creative spirit—a screenwriter, director, poet, and more—Conrad was convicted of terrorism, secession, and other charges. His sentence: 15 years in Kondengui Central Prison.
Conrad’s imprisonment silenced not just a journalist, but a multifaceted artist. Yet, his voice wouldn’t be completely stifled. Even within prison walls, his creative spirit found an outlet. In 2019, amidst inmate protests for better conditions, Conrad contributed a poem, “The Boycott,” to an anthology titled “Ashes and Memories.” Tragically, these peaceful demonstrations were met with violence. Conrad himself suffered a head injury during the crackdown, receiving an additional 18 months in prison for “resistance.”
A glimmer of hope arrived in July 2021. The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention declared Conrad’s imprisonment unlawful, calling for his immediate release and an investigation. Advocacy groups, like the Committee to Protect Journalists, have tirelessly pushed for his freedom, using the UN ruling as leverage. Despite these efforts, Tsi Conrad remains confined within the walls of Kondengui Central Prison as of this writing.
