Detention of Cameroonian journalists over alleged theft

In September 2026, four journalists in Cameroon—François Essomba, Igor Gwet Bibey, Solange Djuikam, and Pierre Mouchili—were detained following allegations that they stole gold eyeglasses belonging to Alamine Ousmane Mey, the Minister of Economy, Planning, and Regional Development. The incident took place at the Palais des Congrès in Yaoundé during an Islamic Development Bank Group event.

The National Union of Information and Communication Professionals (SPIC) condemned the arrests as “arbitrary and abusive,” noting that the journalists were held on suspicion without concrete evidence. The journalists were released after the Minister reportedly found his glasses inside his own vehicle.

Following their release, the Minister of Communication, René Emmanuel Sadi, met with the journalists in Yaoundé. Sadi characterized the event as an “unfortunate incident” and stated that press freedom is an “irreversible path,” pledging to work toward the security of journalists in their professional duties. Meanwhile, professional organizations continue to criticize the conditions of the detention and have called for reparations for damage to the journalists' honor.