Breaking News - Journalists Caged At Biya’s Swearing-In Ceremony ... Cameron News

Pressmen and women who came to cover the swearing-in ceremony of President-elect, Paul Biya, were stranded at the National Assembly as they were categorically refused access, even though the Civil Cabinet of the Presidency duly accredited them.

According to the excuses given to the journalists who were instead caged opposite the entrance into the National Assembly, not all journalists could be allowed into the hemicycle due to limited space.

Even though some media organs, especially foreign channels, were given access, a majority of journalists who remained outside the National Assembly building criticised the action, arguing that giving them accreditation was a waste of time, because, they could not go in and take images as the President-Elect was being sworn in.

Breaking News - Journalists Caged At Biya’s Swearing-In Ceremony ... Cameroon News

“I don’t know exactly why journalists are being treated like this in this country. This is not the first time and why must we have accreditation to cover an event and each time security operatives block us from doing our job? This is not good at all. Something must be done about this,” a journalist said.

Another journalist stated: “Look at where we have been kept. We are under the sun and who knows what can happen if rain comes. Journalists should not be treated as if they don’t know where to go. When you go and report on what is happening to us now, they consider you as not being patriotic.”

Apart from failing to get into the hemicycle, journalists also decried the fact that their phones (essential working tools in today’s digital world), were not permitted around the premises.
While some journalists who could not have access into the hemicycle went back home out of frustration and in anger, others endured the scorching sun and followed the event from the giant screens that were mounted around the National Assembly building.

However, journalists who were refused access could only start working after President Biya had gone.

Concerning where journalists were to sit, it was indicated that the Presidential family had taken place and that media men and women will have to stand up from the start to the end of the ceremony.

Meanwhile, access to the National Assembly neighbourhood was cumbersome as those coming in from the Obili and Melen ends had to go round towards the Military Stadium before arriving close to the venue of the ceremony.