A dramatic turn of events unfolded in Yaoundé on June 12, 2026, when an individual arrived at the headquarters of Cameroon’s national broadcaster, CRTV, in the Nlongkak district, armed with what appeared to be official presidential decrees. The documents, presented as legitimate instruments of state authority, included a decree purporting to appoint a vice president of the Republic by President Paul Biya.

Staff at the broadcaster, following standard procedure for such announcements, prepared to read the decree on air. However, upon closer inspection by senior officials—including those consulted in Geneva where President Biya was attending an international meeting since June 7—the documents were swiftly identified as forgeries. The name affixed to the fraudulent decree matched that of the individual who had delivered them: Johann Adriel Sitchom Kuate.

Legal consequences and state security implications

The incident has raised serious questions about the motives behind the attempt. Was this an isolated act of delusion, or part of a calculated scheme to destabilize the country’s institutions? Authorities have classified the case as a attempt to undermine state security, a charge that now defines the legal battle Johann Adriel Sitchom Kuate must face.