In a democracy, elections are not just about ballots and candidates. They are also about information and the ability of citizens to make informed choices. In this 2025 presidential race, that ability is increasingly shaped, and in some cases threatened, by the space available for journalists to operate freely.
Souga Tsogo Gabrielle and statements of her arrest
The arrest this week of The Post newspaper’s student journalist, Souga Tsogo Gabrielle, at the gates of the Constitutional Council in Yaoundé, has thrown this reality into sharp relief. Souga Tsogo, a first‑year student at the Advanced School of Mass Communication (ASMAC), was on assignment to cover hearings into pre‑election disputes when she was detained by security forces.
According to eyewitness accounts and statements from her employer and the Cameroon Association of English‑Speaking Journalists (CAMASEJ), Souga Tsogo was stopped alongside other individuals, some suspected of being protesters. Despite clearly identifying herself as a journalist on duty, she was taken to the Yaoundé first district police station, interrogated without legal counsel, and held overnight in a cramped cell before being released the following afternoon.
Her arrest which has been described by The Post as “unwarranted” and by CAMASEJ as “a blatant attack on press freedom” has triggered a wave of condemnation at a time when access to independent coverage of the election is more critical than ever.
Souga Tsogo Gabrielle
Media’s role in the 2025 race
The Constitutional Council’s hearings on pre‑election disputes have been at the centre of political life in Cameroon over the past week. From the rejection of high‑profile candidacies like that of opposition figure Prof Maurice Kamto, to the invalidation of other contenders such as Hilaire Marcaire Dzipan, these rulings have redrawn the presidential race and now reduces from ELECAM’s original 13 approved candidates to 12.
For journalists, these hearings are not merely legal proceedings; they are a vital source of information for the public. Reporters are tasked with explaining complex judicial arguments, breaking down electoral law, and revealing how decisions made in the Palais des Congrès will shape the October 12 vote. In short, the press acts as the public’s eyes and ears inside rooms where the nation’s political future is being decided.
Yet, Souga’s Tsogo arrest is a reminder that this role is being played out in an increasingly hostile environment.
A shrinking space for press freedom
Cameroon’s constitution guarantees freedom of the press, but the reality on the ground tells a different story. The country ranks low on global press freedom indexes, with journalists frequently facing harassment, threats, or detention, particularly during politically sensitive periods.
Election seasons heighten these tensions. Security forces are often on high alert, suspicious of large gatherings and wary of dissent. In such a climate, journalists especially young, emerging reporters like Souga Tsogo can find themselves caught between their professional duty and state suspicion.
“Freedom of the press is not a privilege. It is a right,” CAMASEJ reminded in its statement, calling for Souga’s unconditional release and urging authorities to stop targeting journalists.
The cost of silencing the media
The arrest of a journalist covering an official public hearing sends a chilling signal. It suggests that even lawful, accredited reporting is vulnerable to disruption and that journalists risk being lumped together with those they are merely there to observe.
In an election already marked by disputes, disqualifications, and polarised politics, undermining press access only fuels public mistrust. Without a robust, independent media presence, voters are left reliant on filtered or incomplete narratives.
The danger is not just to individual journalists, but to the democratic process itself. A democracy cannot thrive when the press is silenced, and citizens are denied access to credible, independent information.
A call for protection and accountability
While Souga Tsogo has been released, The Post and CAMASEJ are demanding accountability for her arrest and calling for greater protection of journalists during the election period. They argue that safeguarding press freedom is not an optional courtesy but it is a constitutional duty and a democratic necessity.
As the Constitutional Council moves toward finalising the list of candidates by August 11, the stakes could not be higher not only for the contenders in the race, but for the journalists whose reporting will help determine how the public understands it.
By Bakah Derick for Hilltopvoices Newsroom
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