President Paul Biya ordered the release of Robert Mintya and Serge Sabouang.
(JED/IFEX) – Kinshasa, 25 November 2010 – Journaliste en danger (JED) welcomes the 24 November release of Robert Mintya and Serge Sabouang, respective editors of “Le Devoir” and “La Nation” newspapers. President Paul Biya ordered the release.
Mintya and Sabouang were imprisoned on 10 March at Yaoundé’s central prison along with their colleague Bibi Ngota of “Cameroon Express”, who subsequently died in prison on 22 April. The three journalists were accused of forging the signature of the president’s chief of staff, Laurent Esso.
Sabouang told JED that they were not brought to trial during their detention. “Despite our release, the case is still pending before the court,” he added.
“After my release I went to church to thank God. I also want to thank President Biya since we learned that it was he who had ordered our release,” Mintya told Agence France-Presse.
