Open war between the CNC and Afrique Media

TV channel Afrique Media says there is no way they will conform to the rules pronounced by the National Communication Council (CNC) and for that matter the TV channel will not stop broadcasting even though it has been suspended for a month by the regulatory body.

"Africa Media is not a company under Cameroonian law. We have no time to waste with the CNC. Rather we prepare the launch of our pan-African news channel, "says Justin Tagou, director of the private media.

According to the news director of the chain, Albert Patrick Eya'a, he considers that this penalty does not exist. "We have not been notified of anything. We learned this by word of mouth," says the journalist.

Yet Since Thursday, June 4, the CNC has published on its website a series of sanctions against several media outlets including the Africa Media chain suspended for a month.

The regulator has also imposed a suspension of 6 months to two journalists of this media, as well as two programs they presented respectively. This is Mohamed Bachir Ladan, presenter of the program "The Pan-African debate" and Juliane Magne Tadda, who hosts "The Pan merit."

Albert Patrick Eya'a who was furious about the issue said "The CNC is not serious. We reserve the right to sue. This is breach of trust. Last April, I've led a delegation to an educational work session. During the exchange, the general secretary of CNC assured that there was no penalty to take. This is why our lawyers have not said anything. If there was an announcement, we would have defended. Today, we are condemned without being heard. "

Moreover, Albert Patrick Eya'a regrets the lack of elegance of the regulator. "The CNC punishes us and do not even bother to inform us before making this decision public. This is a violation of procedure," he explains.

When the CNC accused Afrique Media of attacking foreign countries, the news director replied that no complaint was ever filed against the chain.

It criticizes the regulator of being overzealous. "Our editorial policy is clear: we are in opinion journalism that is to say, a committed journalism. We chose to defend a cause: Pan-Africanism. We fight against Western imperialism in Africa. Everyone knows that Nicolas Sarkozy killed Gaddafi," he said, before concluding: "The Cameroonian government has no problem with us, same with the Chadian regime and the Equatorial Guinean regime".

Extract from remarks made on Afrique Media and cited by the CNC during the program "The Pan-African debate" on 1 February 2015.

"... Mr. Holland and others serve as a cover for esoteric organizations that have criminal plans for Africa"

"... It is Paris that subcontracts with the United States to equip Boko Haram with guns"

"... What happened at the Hotel Ivoire is a euphemism compared to what will happen in Cameroon"

"... The calm that the French are about to see is only above a storm ... This storm will not be against our rulers, but against the Embassy of France in Yaounde and the consulate of France in Douala. All provisions have already been taken at the youth ... "

During the program "The Pan merit" in February and March 2015

"... It was the CIA that informs Boko Haram in Nigeria"

"... Mr Sarkozy is a vandal, a robber, a thief, a killer ..."

"... Paris finances and supports Boko Haram"