Lewis Medjo is a Cameroonian journalist who serves as managing editor of the weekly newspaper La Détente Libre. Heis known for his reporting on human rights and good governance issues. Because his reporting was often critical of the Cameroonian government, he and his family were regularly harassed by government agents.
On August 7, 2008, La Détente Libre published an article titled, “Thunderbolt at the Supreme Court: Biya Fires Dipanda Mouelle.” The article speculated that President Paul Biya was compromising the independence of the judiciary by forcing out the Supreme Court president. The story was based on a presidential decree that did not extend the judge’s term, although he subsequently remained on the Supreme Court.
Lewis was arrested in September 2008 and after several delays was convicted in January 2009 of “spreading false news.” He was sentenced to three years in prison and a fine of two million CFA francs.
Lewis was held in New Bell Prison, known for its harsh and life-threatening conditions and has been described as “hell on earth.” It was originally built to hold 800 inmates but holds more than 2,800. The prison does not provide adequate food or medical care for prisoners. Inmates are often beaten and chained. The prison has only seven water taps for its entire population. The acute shortage of water and poor sanitation contributes to poor hygiene, illness, and death.
Freedom Now worked closely on a number of private initiatives to secure Lewis’s release with the United Nations and with members of the U.S. Congress, in particular, Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL). In May 2010, President Biya issued a presidential amnesty freeing Medjo from prison.
In February 2017, Lewis was arrested and sentenced to six months in prison and a $1,800 fine on the charge of defamation. Because he was unable to pay the fine, his sentence was increased to two years. The charge stemmed from a story he published in November 2012 which alleged a prominent lawyer and politician was involved in stealing cars. Lewis again reached out to Freedom Now to provide him assistance. He was released in August 2017 after serving six months and paying the fine.
He remains in Cameroon where he continues to work as a journalist.