The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today vigorously condemned the explosive device attack against a newspaper and a printing industry in the capital city of Yaoundé in Cameroon.

 « We regret this press freedom violation act and call on authorities in Cameroon to deeply investigate this attack so as to bring the perpetrators to justice”, said Gabriel Baglo, IFJ Africa Director.

According to Cameroon’s national journalists union (SNJC in French), an IFJ affiliate, an explosive device attack took place in the night of November 25 to 26 against Press-Book Communications premises in Yaoundé, which has a newspaper and a print industry.

SNJC collected the version of Mr. Lambert Fotso Tchamekwen the promoter of the newspaper and print industry who said that a commando of six hooded persons, on board two vehicles violently appeared in the premises, seriously injuring the watchman.  

They break into the premises where two devices exploded damaging two rotation presses. They left in their retreat detonation accessories and military effects.

“After a brief analysis of the modus operandi, it looks as if this attack is far from being a villainous crime. It is a terrorist act which perpetrators are still free while their backers and the motives remain unknown,” said Félix Cyriaque Ebolé Bola, SNJC President.

The IFJ joins SNJC to express its solidarity to the instigator and owner of Press-Book Communications. It warns those who by diverse means, including the most violent, are compromising press freedom and intimidating those who support its causes.

For more information, please contact IFJ:  +221 33 867 95 86

The IFJ represents over 600.000 journalists in 134 countries