CPJ Says Government Should Present Biya Publicly, Instead of Censoring Media

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has urged the Cameroon Government to put rumours about President Paul Biya’s health to rest by arranging for his public appearance.

The CPJ says this will be better than threatening journalists and media organs against reporting on the state of the president’s health.

“The Cameroonian government should simply put the rumours to rest by arranging a public appearance by the head of state,“ said Angela Quintal, head of CPJ’s Africa.

She added that “the health of the president, who has been in power for 41 years and may seek re-election next year, is of public interest”.

Angela Quintal was reacting in New York on Thursday, October 10, following a letter by Cameroon’s Minister of Territorial Administration, Paul Atanga Nji, banning public debates on any media about the health of President Paul Biya, who has been absent from the public view for over a month now.

“Any misguided attempt to censor reporting about his health for national security reasons simply fuels rampant speculation,” CPJ’s Angela Quintal said.

Minister Atanga Nji ban also ordered the Governors in the country’s 10 regions to create monitoring units in their offices to track down those who will violate the order.

Before Atanga Nji’s communique, several government Ministers, including government spokesperson, Rene Emmanuel Sadi, and the Director of Civil Cabinet at the Presidency, Samuel Mvondo Ayolo, had released separate statements denying rumors that Paul Biya, 91, had died.

While René Emmanuel Sadi said Biya was on a private stay in Europe, Samuel Mvondo Ayolo, Director of Civil Cabinet, said Biya was carrying out his duties in Switzerland.

Despite the government’s counter statements, Biya has not been seen, further foiling many to question his whereabouts.

Minister Atanga Nji has gone further to prohibit topics about his health, citing that it is a matter of national security.

The Committee to Protect Journalists strongly disagrees with the Ministerial order.

“The Cameroonian government should end its threats to sanction private media journalists who report on the condition and whereabouts of President Paul Biya, 91, who has not been seen publicly for over a month and has missed scheduled international engagements,” CPJ wrote.

The last time Paul Biya was seen was in early September, when he attended the China-Africa summit in Beijing.