The young Cameroonian must serve six months of imprisonment after being found guilty of insulting the head of state Paul Biya.
The Yaoundé administrative center first instance court sentences Patrick Mengue to six months of imprisonment, a fine of 28,000 CFA francs, and costs amounting to 15,000 CFA francs. The judge also orders the confiscation of his mobile phone. The young Cameroonian was found guilty of “insulting the President of the Republic.” After this verdict pronounced on April 27, 2026, he has 10 days to appeal.
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For his lawyer Me Batam Nkolong, his client was only exercising his right to freedom of worship recognized by the Constitution. Because of this prayer, he finds himself in prison. It is because of this prayer he addressed to God that he is condemned. “This conviction is absurd… The President of the Republic should fight for justice to become increasingly independent,” declared the lawyer before the press. He announces the continuation of the procedure before the Court of Appeal where he intends to appeal. For him, the truth did not deceive; the court was not independent.
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The events date back to April 11, 2026, when the young Patrick Mengue shared a whistleblower’s post announcing the death of the former Senate president Marcel Niat Njifenji. By sharing the post, he commented: “Lord, you are already getting closer to the target, one more effort please (please editor’s note).” Questioned two days later, he was detained on April 24, 2026, while investigations continued. At the end of the procedure, he must serve six months of imprisonment. According to this court decision, he should be released from prison on October 24, 2026.
