Cameroon Ministers contradict country’s low press freedom rating

By Daniel D.

Cameroon government Ministers have defended the country’s record on press freedom, despite its ranking as one of the most dangerous places for journalists in Africa.

The Minister of Communication, René Emmanuel Sadi, and Minister of Labour and Social Security, Gregoire Owona, were both resolute that the country has a free press.

They made the statements during World Press Freedom Day commemorations on May 3.

On the same day, renowned media watchdog organization, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) ranked Cameroon as one of the most dangrous places for journalists in Africa.

Three journalists were killed in the country last year – two were killed in Yaounde and one in Bamenda.

This is coupled with reported cases of threats and intimidation, arbitrary arrest of journalists and press censorship in the country.

These factors have limited press freedom in the country, with Cameroon occupying the 130th position in the world in the latest press freedom rankings.

However, Minister Gregoire Owona asserted that the Cameroon media landscape has evolved significantly from censorship to press freedom since the advent of the 1990 press freedom laws.

He highlighted the progress made, stating that direct censorship from administrative authorities, which was prevalent before, is now rare.

“We must all recognize that we live in a country where freedom of the press is a reality,” he said in a statement.

“I fought in the era of censorship for the freedom of the press, which I believe is that of the collection, processing, and dissemination of facts, for the emergence of the truth.

“Comments must be able to find their sources in the facts and not the other way around.”

Minister Sadi echoed Owona’s sentiments, stating that Cameroon has made significant strides in establishing a free and independent press over the past three decades.

He credited the 1990 law on freedom of social communication and subsequent reforms for fostering media pluralism and freedom of expression in the country.

“As you all know, more than thirty years ago, Cameroon resolutely committed itself to the path of building a free and independent press,” he stated.

“Thanks to the law of December 19, 1990, relating to freedom of social communication, our country established freedom to publish and freedom to undertake in the media sector, followed a few years later by the repeal of the prior administrative censorship.”

While acknowledging these achievements, Sadi also recognized the challenges faced by journalists in Cameroon.

“Despite these notable achievements of which we can all be proud, we must note, to regret it, the recurrence in recent times in the Cameroonian media landscape of a certain number of dysfunctions and abuses,” he said.

He lamented the recurrence of dysfunction and abuses in the media landscape but did not directly address specific incidents such as the killing of journalist Martinez Zogo last year.

Zogo’s case, in which the boss of the Cameroon Secret Service, his deputy, and a business mogul are standing trial, remains unresolved.

Sadi highlighted issues such as defamation, insults, and attacks on honor and dignity as obstacles to press freedom.

To address these challenges, the government has initiated reforms aimed at increasing institutional support for privately owned media.

The theme of this year’s press freedom celebration, “A Press for the Planet: Journalism in the Face of the Environmental Crisis,” was also addressed by Minister Sadi.

He emphasized the role of journalists in raising awareness about environmental issues and their potential impact on society, including mass migration, food shortages, and natural disasters.
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“This means, in light of the few consequences that I have just cited, that the environmental crisis represents a major danger for all of humanity,” he said.

“It is then up to the governors of each state to give the protection of journalists and the communicative sphere, in general, all the importance it deserves, as it is true that they can and must constitute effective relays in raising awareness. of all against climate change.”

©Mimi Mefo Info