The Yaounde chapter of the Cameroon Association of English-Speaking Journalists (CAMASEJ) has shown solidarity with colleagues currently held at the Yaounde Central Prison.
On Thursday, July 17, 2025, a delegation from the Yaounde chapter, consisting of journalists Nalova Akua and Karine Kubong, visited the correctional facility.
They brought essential food items, including rice, cooking oil, and spaghetti, to support the detained journalists.
In an official statement, the CAMASEJ Yaounde chapter said the delegation, while delivering the items, “extended the chapter’s compassion and solidarity to our colleagues, while remaining optimistic about their future.”
The visit also provided an opportunity for the delegation to hear about the challenges faced by the detained journalists, including issues related to health, finances, and nutrition.
The incarcerated journalists expressed gratitude, stating, “We thank the CAMASEJ Yaoundé family for keeping us in their thoughts.”
They appealed to their colleagues to continue supporting them through prayers and acts of kindness.
Cameroon’s Press Freedom Crisis
Cameroon is currently ranked as Africa’s second-worst jailer of journalists, behind Eritrea, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).
At least five journalists are presently detained in the Central African nation, with the CPJ suggesting that some of these detentions are politically motivated.
While those currently imprisoned hold onto hope, the tragic fates of journalists like Martinez Zogo, Ola Bebe Jacques, and Samuel Wazizi serve as reminders of the dangers faced by media professionals in Cameroon.
These individuals were killed under circumstances that remain unclear.
CAMASEJ’s outreach underscores the ongoing struggle for press freedom in Cameroon and the importance of solidarity within the journalistic community.
