Authorities in Cameroon have imposed a strict media ban on any discussions regarding the health of President Paul Biya, following widespread rumours about his death.
Interior Minister Paul Atanga Nji instructed regional governors to enforce the prohibition, claiming that the growing speculation was disturbing the peace and tranquillity of the country. “Any debate in the media about the president’s condition is therefore strictly prohibited,” Nji declared, warning that those who violate the directive would face legal consequences.
The 91-year-old leader, who has been in power for over four decades, has not made a public appearance since September 8, when he attended a China-Africa forum in Beijing. Since then, reports about his health have sparked a wave of speculation.
Government officials have pushed back against these rumours, insisting that President Biya is in good health and is simply enjoying a private stay in Geneva, Switzerland. Nji stressed that the president’s health is a matter of national security and instructed governors to establish units to ensure that private media outlets and social media platforms adhere to the media restrictions.
The restrictions have raised broader concerns about the safety of journalists in Cameroon, a country where media professionals are often targeted by both government forces and insurgent groups. In the past, Anglophone separatists have kidnapped journalists, and government authorities have arrested and detained media workers.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), a global press freedom organization, condemned the ban, urging the Cameroonian government to stop threatening journalists who report on the president’s health and whereabouts.
As the speculation around President Biya’s well-being continues to grow, many Cameroonians are awaiting his return, with authorities promising he will return to the country in the coming days.
SOURCE: http://dew360.net
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