Committee to Protect Journalists – Defending Journalists Worldwide.

Documents: Cameroon spied on killed journalist

Maxime Eko Eko (left), the former head of the DGRE counterintelligence agency, and Jean-Pierre Amougou Belinga, a businessman and head of the L’Anecdote media group, are among 17 suspects set to stand trial in a murder and torture case, documents from which revealed that journalist Martinez Zogo was targeted for surveillance. (Screenshot: YouTube/STV Cameroon)

The existence of a surveillance operation that allegedly spied on murdered journalist Martinez Zogo since at least 2015, and possibly on other journalists, was disclosed in a 20-page referral to trial document reviewed by CPJ. The document was part of a judicial investigation into the January 2023 kidnapping, torture, and murder of the popular radio host, which was finalized on February 29, 2024.

Seventeen suspects are expected to stand trial, on a date yet to be set, in a military court in the capital, Yaoundé, on charges including murder, complicity and conspiracy to murder, complicity and conspiracy to torture, complicity to kidnap, and violation of instructions, according to the document and news reports.

The suspects include:

Léopold Maxime Eko Eko, former head of the counterintelligence agency General Directorate for External Research (DGRE)
Justin Danwe, former DGRE director of operations
Jean-Pierre Amougou Belinga, an influential businessman and head of the privately owned media group L’Anecdote
Bruno François Bidjang, L’Anecdote managing director and news presenter for privately owned television station Vision 4

“The revelation that a surveillance operation targeted popular radio host Martinez Zogo since at least 2015 raises concerns about which other journalists have been surveilled,” said Angela Quintal, head of CPJ’s Africa program in New York. “Cameroonian authorities must make a full disclosure and ensure the end to all surveillance, physical or electronically, of journalists.”

Shortly before his abduction and murder, Zogo publicly accused Belinga of widespread corruption involving funds from the Cameroonian treasury during his radio show Embouteillage (Gridlock).

Condé Nast joins CPJ to defend free press

New Yorker Editor David Remnick speaks with Committee to Protect Journalists CEO Jodie Ginsberg during a February event at Condé Nast headquarters in New York City. (Photo: Courtesy of Condé Nast)

Global media publisher Condé Nast and international press freedom organization Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) announced a new partnership Thursday to help promote journalist freedom and safety.

As part of the partnership, Condé Nast will help raise awareness and funds for CPJ by using its platforms, including the Vanity Fair Oscar Party, and creative and advertising support linked to World Press Freedom Day.

“The Committee to Protect Journalists is a vital organization for many reasons, not the least of which is that even in the most trying times, in war and conflict, they are on the frontlines fighting for the rights of journalists to report news safely and without fear,” Condé Nast CEO Roger Lynch said. “Condé Nast has long been a supporter of CPJ, and I’m thrilled that we are deepening our relationship with them.”

CPJ will be included in Condé Nast events throughout the year, and Condé Nast will be a leading participant at CPJ’s annual International Press Freedom Awards dinner, to be held in November.

Journalists Attacked

Garry Tesse

KILLED

Haitian journalist Garry Tesse disappeared on his way to the Radio Lebon FM station in Les Cayes on October 18, 2022. His body was found six days later on the seashore and showed signs of severe torture.

Authorities opened a murder investigation, but the circumstances of Tesse’s death have remained shrouded in mystery since one of the principal suspects was released from jail in December 2023, leading to accusations of a cover-up by local press advocacy group SOS Journalistes.

Tesse, 39, was a vocal critic of political and judicial corruption on his midday radio show, “Gran Lakou” (Creole for “Big Yard”), on Radio Lebon FM. He was especially critical of a local prosecutor, stating on his radio show shortly before his death that there was a plot by the prosecutor to have him killed.

Learn more about Tesse