Cameroon Government shuts down Popular Private TV

Courtesy - Harry Ndienla Yemti

Authorities considered Equinoxe Television to be pro-opposition

Cameroon’s minister of communication, Jean Pierre Biyiti Bi Essam, recently signed a decision sealing Equinoxe Television (eTV), one of the country’s most popular private television stations based in the
economic capital of Douala. Though it is not crystal clear as to what motivated the minister’s draconian sanction against the media organ, some schools of thought as well as fans of the television channel, strongly believe that the critical tone of the eTV could not be ruled out. They accept as true that government authorities considered Equinoxe Television to be pro-opposition in their coverage and as a result took advantage of the fact that it was operating without completing the necessary documents to slam the ban. But like eTV, nearly all other private television stations in the country are operating without a license.

Consequently, workers of the station were filled with dismay, with a greater part of them weeping as to what will become of them and their families in this period of hardship in the country where getting a job is not easy. “What am I going to do now? My hopes have been
Shattered by this decision. Government would have solved the problem without closing the station owing to the fact that many families rely on it for their survival” cried a worker, and father of four who claims he has over a dozen people under his care.