Célestin Lingo/CPJ Guest Blogger
![The author in his office in 1992. (L’Essor des Jeunes)](https://cpj.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/CC3A9lestin20Lingo.jpg?w=220&h=286&crop=1)
Press fuels democracy in Cameroon, across continent
On January 1, 1960, during the proclamation of independence of the French speaking part of Cameroon, I was forced, with comrades from Leclerc high school in Yaoundé, to take part in the big parade organized by President Ahmadou Ahidjo. At that time, I would occasionally write articles for the school magazine, but also for Les…