Willy Mengue, a key figure in the opposition to Maurice Kamto’s reinstatement as president of the Movement for the Rebirth of Cameroon (MRC), has called on Equinoxe Television to rebalance its news coverage.
This demand follows the appearance of MRC vice-president Mamadou Mota on the program ‘The Truth Face to Face’ on Sunday evening, specifically regarding coverage of their political party.
According to Mengue, such rebalancing is essential for ‘fairness in news coverage,’ ‘the pursuit of journalistic truth,’ and ‘the right to information.’
In an open letter to Equinoxe TV’s CEO, Mengue stated: ‘At the very least, you must urgently grant a right of reply to the program “Truth Face to Face,” which focused on the contested return of Professor Maurice Kamto to the head of the MRC. You gave the floor to my political ally Mamadou Mota on this important issue; the search for truth demands that you offer the same opportunity to the protesters, whom I represent.’
During Sunday’s broadcast, Mamadou Mota defended Kamto’s return to the MRC presidency. Mengue, however, formally contests this move, labeling it a ‘fraudulent return.’
Mengue reminded the channel that Equinoxe TV prides itself as ‘the people’s channel that reports beyond the image.’ He added that their coverage of the alleged manipulation of the MRC’s foundational texts to facilitate a fraudulent return of a resigning leader will only be fair if this demanded right of reply is granted. ‘The Cameroonian people are watching you on this matter,’ he concluded.
