On June 12, 2026, Johann Adriel Sitchom Kuate arrived at the headquarters of Cameroon’s national broadcaster, CRTV, in Yaoundé’s Nlongkak district, claiming to carry critical documents. Witnesses present described the papers as appearing entirely legitimate at first glance, including a decree purportedly signed by President Paul Biya appointing a vice-president of the Republic.

By protocol, such decrees are customarily read on air to inform the public.

Staff at CRTV, sensing irregularities, immediately escalated the matter to top state officials. Given that President Biya had been in Geneva since June 7, authorities quickly verified the document’s authenticity. The investigation confirmed the text was fabricated, with the name on the forged decree matching Johann Adriel Sitchom Kuate’s.

Was this an isolated act by an individual acting alone, or part of a more elaborate scheme aimed at what some have termed an institutional coup attempt? The inquiry ultimately led to charges of attempting to undermine state security. Johann Adriel Sitchom Kuate now faces these allegations in court.