Cameroon’s media community is marking the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists with a stark warning which indicates that journalism in the country has become a life-risking profession, and silence from authorities is feeding the danger.
In a statement on November 2, the Cameroon Journalists’ Trade Union (CJTU) said 2025 has been the deadliest year for journalists worldwide in a decade. Much of the devastation is seen in conflict zones such as Gaza, where nearly 200 journalists and media workers have been killed. Yet the crisis hits home too. Cameroon continues to grapple with unsolved killings and ongoing threats to its media workers, often without consequences for perpetrators.
The union recalled cases that continue to hang over the sector. The trial on the killing of radio host Martinez Zogo began almost two years after his death and has been clouded by repeated delays. Other journalists whose deaths remain unresolved include Bibi Ngota, Samuel Wazizi, Anye Nde Soh, Ernestine Ouandié, Jules Koum and Rebecca Liwusi Jeme. For their families and colleagues, justice has yet to arrive.
This year’s global theme focuses on gender-based violence amplified by digital technology and AI. Female journalists face harassment online, deepfake abuse and coordinated digital intimidation, often with no support or recourse. The union said many suffer quietly, fearing retaliation or isolation.
Recent unrest after elections in Cameroon has made matters worse. Reporters have been beaten, stabbed or threatened while covering tensions in cities like Douala. In each case, journalists were targeted for doing their work. None of the attackers have publicly faced consequences.
CJTU leader Marion Obam called for real change, not sympathy. She urged journalists to honour fallen colleagues, investigate cases of impunity and stand together. For the state, she laid out clear actions including accelerate trials, reopen abandoned cases and introduce a law protecting media workers. The union argues that this would give families closure and restore public trust in the justice system while safeguarding democracy.
If those measures are taken, the impact could be far-reaching. Proper legal protection and accountability would strengthen press freedom, reduce self-censorship and help ensure citizens continue to receive accurate information in times of crisis. If ignored, trust in institutions may erode further and violence against journalists risks becoming routine.
“Our colleagues’ pens did not break... We will continue to inform, to resist and to fight for truth and justice.” Obam said, calling for unity in the profession.
For Cameroon’s media, this day is is a plea to break a cycle that threatens the very foundation of public information. The message is simple, journalism cannot protect society if society does not protect journalism.
By Hilltopvoices Newsroom
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