By Doh James Sonkey
Communication Minister and Government Spokesperson, Rene Emmanuel Sadi has told media professionals that, “the media should play the role of fire extinguisher.”
He was speaking last October 24, 2025 during an exchange with the national and international press since the holding of the election of the President of the Republic last October 12, 2025.
In his preliminary statement, Minister Sadi said ‘‘allegations and even hasty and mostly unfounded claims are flying from both sides, discrediting the institutions responsible for conducting the entire process, from voter registration to the announcement of the results, calling into question their credibility or reliability in conducting the process established by law and respecting the truth of the ballot box.’’
He added that ‘‘in such a context fuelled by rather unwelcome misinformation, the risks of incitement to unjustified claims, which could lead to unrests, detrimental to peace and social cohesion, appear to be extremely high.’’
The Communication Minister further told journalists to carry on their activities ‘‘in strict compliance with the ethical and professional rules governing their profession, act in all responsibility and as good citizens, with a view to promoting collective well-being and social cohesion.’’
On her part, the President of the Union de la Presse Francophone, Evelyne Mengue Akoum urged the media to be keepers of credible broadcast news and to examine their conscience.
The President of Cameroon Association of English-Speaking Journalists, CAMASEJ, Jude Viban rejoiced that such a dialogue is strengthening collaboration between the Ministry and journalists, and that it shouldn’t be just to resolve the possible unrest but should be a permanent one.
“Transparency is not achieved by silencing journalists”, Viban stressed.
The President of REPAC, François Mbocke who doubles as Publisher of Diapason, congratulated the media for covering the presidential election in Cameroon without any assistance given to them. He then told the Minister of Communication to financially accompany the press in their noble mission today.
Responding to the preoccupations raised by journalism associations, Rene Emmanuel Sadi said he solicited funds from the presidency to assist the media but received no favorable response.
‘‘Perhaps there were no funds available. Knowing fully well that I couldn’t do anything to ameliorate your condition, I had to invite you for this meeting to remind the media that they should be fire extinguishers. You cannot be indifferent’’.
He stressed that the media has a fundamental role to play. “Our country is facing threats that can catch fire”, he alerted.