Dakar, August 14, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Cameroonian authorities to release George Atabong Lekeaka, who has been held incommunicado since Monday for publishing a photo of security officers on patrol during clashes with separatist fighters.
“George Atabong Lekeaka should not have been arrested for attempting to provide the public with security information, let alone secretly detained without access to a lawyer or his family, in violation of his rights,” said Moussa Ngom, CPJ’s Francophone Africa representative. “Cameroonian authorities should immediately disclose Lekeaka’s whereabouts, release him, and refrain from targeting journalists for covering the Anglophone crisis.”
George Atabong Lekeaka (Credit withheld)
The
Anglophone crisis
began in 2016 with
protests
by lawyers and teachers over the
appointment
of French-speaking officials in the minority English-speaking Northwest and Southwest regions, triggering a
crackdown
by the majority French-speaking government and a secessionist
rebellion
.
On August 10, Lekeaka
published
a photo of a soldier and a police officer on patrol in the southwestern city of Buea on the Facebook page All-About-Cameroon, to which he is a contributor, the page’s administrator told CPJ, on condition of anonymity, citing fear of reprisal.
“Serious gunfire exchange between the military and the ‘boyses’ at mile 18 Buea, please stay home and stay safe,” the post said, using a nickname for the separatists.
Hours later, Lekeaka was detained after identifying himself to soldiers who were searching the area near where the photo was taken, according to an August 12
habeas corpus
, reviewed by CPJ, which was filed by his lawyer Emmanuel Aleambong Nkea in a bid to have the journalist produced in court.
The court document includes testimony of a witness who was taken to a military assembly point with Lekeaka after the journalist was detained.
“The arresting officers refused to inform me where they
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