Ramon Cotta Affair: Activist Known As Steve Akam In Gabon, Ramon Cotta On Social Media, And Yves Kibouy Bershu In Cameroon

More details are coming out about the incarcerated social media activist, Steve Akam aka Ramon Cotta, who was arrested in Gabon last month, and extradited to Cameroon. The Former President of the General Assembly of the Cameroon Bar Association, Barrister Hipolyte Meli Tarkouang, who is heading a team of human rights lawyer to defend the incarcerated Social media activist, Ramon Cotta, finally succeeded to meet him on Tuesday, August 20, 2024,. This happened soon after the team of lawyers finally discovered the whereabouts of the social media activist, and rapidly deposited a document with the Examining Magistrate at the Yaounde Military Tribunal, containing among other things  the names of lawyers that have constituted a  team  to defend the activist.

After depositing the document, Barrister Meli then pleaded to the Investigating magistrate handling the case to permit him and Sylvain Souop, a specialist on the defense of victims of politico – judicial and military repression, who accompanied him. The permission was granted, and that was how the lead defense lawyer in the matter, Barrister Meil, finally succeeded to meet the detained the detained social media activist, Ramon Cotta.

Activist Adopted A New Name In Gabon

Meanwhile it has been disclosed in a release done and posted on the social media done by Barrister Hypolyte Meli and Sylvain Souop, that from what they learnt when they met the Examining Magistrate and the detained social media activist, the name, Steve Akam, which has been assumed in Cameroon to be the real names of the activist, since he was arrested last month in Gabon and extradited to Cameroon, is not his real name. The real name of the Cameroonian national is YVES KIBOUY BERSHU. When he left Cameroon and settled in Gabon 10 years ago, he adopted a new name, Steve Akam, while on the social media (Tik Tok) he used the pseudonym, Ramon Cotta. It is not yet known why he changed his name when he got to the neighbouring country, Gabon. There was certainly a reason for the change of name.  And why did he adopt the name Akam? It should be noted that the name Akam, is associated more with people of President Biya’s South Region.

Meanwhile Ramon Cotta told Barrister Meli that he has been interrogated a total six times by the security services – Two times at the General Directorate of External Research (former CENER), and four times at the Secretariat of Defense in charge of the Gendarmerie commonly known by the French acronym, SED. Ramon Cotta told Barrister Meli that he was tortured during one of the interrogations by the former CENER. He also complained that part of his body (left side), has started paralyzing, while he has sight problem. He said he was being detained in dark cell.  The detained activist also disclosed that his meeting with Barrister Meli was the first time he was meeting a civilian since he was extradited to Cameroon. The activist has appeared at the Yaounde Military Tribunal twice, to meet the Examining Magistrate.

A five count charge has been leveled against Yves Kibouy Bershu, known in Gabon as Steve Akam, and on social media as Ramon Cotta. The charges include: Terrorism, Insurrection, Arms Trafficking, Insulting the President of the Republic and members of Government, and Sponsoring Terrorism.