The UN shows its “deep concern” over the murder of a second journalist in two weeks in Cameroon

7 Feb. (EUROPA PRESS) –

The United Nations has shown on Tuesday its “deep concern” for the safety of journalists in Cameroon after the murder of Jean-Jacques Ola Bebe, radio presenter and Orthodox priest, less than two weeks after the kidnapping and murder of Arsene Salomon Mbami Zogo , popularly known as Martinez Zogo, director of the Amplitude FM station.

The spokesman for the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Seig Magango, stressed that “Ola Bebe and Martinez Zogo were critical voices against corruption who used their radio platforms to denounce cases of embezzlement.” “Ola Bebe was at the forefront of calls for justice and accountability for the murder of Zogo, a close associate,” he recalled.

Thus, it stated that during the month of January “at least three other Cameroonian journalists reported having received credible threats from unidentified persons” and added that “the Cameroonian authorities must take all necessary measures to create an adequate environment for journalists work without fear of reprisals and respect the right to freedom of expression, guaranteed by Humanitarian Law and the Constitution of Cameroon”.

“A free, independent and diverse media climate is crucial to guarantee that citizens are informed and can hold institutions to account,” Magango explained, adding that Cameroonian President Paul Biya has ordered an investigation into these cases. , which have already led to various arrests.

“We ask the authorities to guarantee that the murder of Ola Bebe is investigated independently, effectively and impartially and that those who are responsible for these murders, at all levels, are held accountable,” he stressed during a press conference.

Businessman Jean-Pierre Amougou Belinga, owner of a media conglomerate, was arrested Monday for his alleged role in the murder of Zogo, who was abducted in January outside a police station in the capital, Yaoundé. The reporter had recently denounced an alleged embezzlement of funds in public sector acquisitions that would have benefited Amougou Belinga himself.

Following this, the Cameroonian Justice Minister, Jean de Dieu Momo, ordered an immediate investigation into the journalist’s murder. “No journalist or nobody deserves to be killed for speaking. Everything must come to light,” he said. Cameroon is ranked 118 out of 180 in the Press Freedom Index published by the non-governmental organization Reporters Without Borders (RSF).