Press freedom: Cameroon ranked 133rd out of 180 in 2026

The latest World Press Freedom Index from Reporters Without Borders (RSF) delivers a stark assessment for Cameroon, placing it at 133rd out of 180 countries. This drop from 131st in the previous year signifies a worsening environment for journalists in the nation, underscoring the persistent challenges to press freedom that the government of Paul Biya has long been accused of perpetuating.

RSF's report highlights that despite the proliferation of media outlets and government assurances, press freedom remains precarious. The organization points to acts leading to the murder and deprivation of liberty of journalists, as well as the generally precarious situation faced by the press, as key factors contributing to Cameroon's low ranking. This reality contrasts sharply with the government's narrative and places Cameroon among the least-rated countries on the African continent in terms of press freedom.

Globally, the situation is equally alarming, with RSF noting that the overall average score has hit a 25-year low. This indicates a widespread trend of deteriorating press freedom, where journalists are increasingly targeted, and the media landscape is being reshaped by hostile political rhetoric, economic hardship, and the instrumentalization of laws against the press. The report's observation that "journalism is dying, asphyxiated by political speech hostile to reporters" is a sentiment that resonates deeply within Cameroon, where critical reporting often faces severe repercussions.

From a Cameroonian perspective, this ranking is not merely a statistic; it reflects the daily struggles and risks undertaken by journalists striving to inform the public. While international coverage often focuses on the global trends, for us in Cameroon, this index serves as a critical call to action for our leaders to genuinely improve the conditions for practicing journalism. The contrast with African nations like South Africa (21st globally) or Namibia (23rd) highlights the significant gap and the urgent need for meaningful reforms to ensure that the press can operate freely and safely, contributing to a more informed and democratic society.

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The journalists are still killed or imprisoned because of their work, but the predatory tactics of freedom of the press are mutating: journalism is dying, asphyxiated by political speech hostile to reporters, weakened by a declining media economy and pressured by the instrumentalization of laws against the press.