Maître Jean Joseph Claude Siewe denounces procedural flaws and intends to exercise all possible avenues of appeal.
Arrested and detained shortly before the proclamation of the results of the presidential election of October 12, 2026, Djeukam Tchameni, one of the main supporters of candidate Issa Tchiroma Bakary, must still serve six months of provisional detention before knowing his fate. The justice system, which is prosecuting him for ”undermining state security”, is extending his detention by an additional six months. Having been deprived of liberty for eight months, he has not yet learned his fate in a case related to the challenge of the presidential election results and the support for the self-proclaimed winning candidate. The ongoing judicial procedure, however, does not satisfy his counsel.
Read more CEMAC-CIDP: a partnership in gestation to accelerate regional integration
According to our colleagues at Rfi, his lawyer disputes the decision to extend the politician’s provisional detention, citing procedural flaws. Maître Siewe maintains that the said decision was taken illegally given his client’s file. It comes at a time when the investigation has produced no conclusive material evidence, raising the feeling of instrumentalization for political neutralization purposes.
Still according to the same source, the lawyer believes that the substantive conditions, in this case the necessity of further investigative acts to be carried out, have not been demonstrated. And that there is an absence of a contradictory debate prior to the decision, constituting a violation of the rights of the defense. Furthermore, the defense cries foul over the violation of the Code of Criminal Procedure, which only allows for the extension of detention based on a detailed justification from the investigating magistrate. All these violations cited by the defense lead the latter to take the initiative to exercise all avenues of appeal.
Read more Far North: ONACC prepares rice and onion agricultural calendars for 2026-2027
Thus, while political opinion awaits the verdict in this case, the procedure dictates waiting another six months. This will undoubtedly further amplify criticism against the regime, accused of illegally detaining political figures who dare to express themselves at sensitive times to voice their opinions loudly. This will include the voices of human rights defenders who denounce the fact that ”political detainees” are prosecuted by the military tribunal.
Read more Mali: access to 39 zones of military interest prohibited to the population
