Cameroon Bans Media From Discussing President's Health
Cameroon's Interior Minister Paul Atanga Nji has imposed a ban on media discussions regarding the health of 91-year-old Pres. Paul Biya, who has not been seen in public for more than a month....
Facts
- Cameroon's Interior Minister Paul Atanga Nji has imposed a ban on media discussions regarding the health of 91-year-old Pres. Paul Biya, who has not been seen in public for more than a month.[1]
- According to a leaked official document addressed to regional governors, 'the head of state is the principal institution of the republic, and discussions on his condition are a matter of national security.'[2]
- The government has further ordered regional governors to set up 'monitoring cells' that will track online content related to Biya's health, warning that violators of the ban will 'face the full force of the law.'[3]
- Pres. Biya's last public appearance was at the China-Africa summit in Beijing in September — he has since missed several important gatherings, including the UN General Assembly in New York and a summit of French-speaking countries in Paris.[4]
- Government spokesperson Rene Sadi stated on Tuesday that Biya had made a private visit to Europe after the Beijing summit, and insisted that the president is in good health, terming reports of his death 'pure fantasy and imagination.'[5]
- Biya has ruled Cameroon since 1982, being Africa's second-longest serving leader after Equatorial Guinea's 82-year-old president, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, who has been in power for 45 years.[6]
Sources: [1]Al Jazeera, [2]France 24, [3]TRT Afrika, [4]Guardian, [5]Nation and [6]Barrons.
Narratives
- Narrative A, as provided by The Guardian Post. The government's ban on media discussion of President Biya's health is necessary to maintain national security and prevent the spread of unfounded rumors. Speculation about the president's condition could lead to unnecessary panic and instability in the country. The government has the right to protect sensitive information related to the head of state.
- Narrative B, as provided by Reuters. The media ban clearly violates press freedom and the public's right to information. Cameroonians have a legitimate interest in knowing about the health of their 91-year-old president, who has been in power for over four decades. This censorship raises concerns about transparency and democratic governance in Cameroon.
