PEN SA Calls for the Immediate Release of Patrice Nganang

PEN South Africa is gravely concerned by the abduction and detention on December 6th 2017 of Patrice Nganang, a Cameroonian-American writer, poet, and professor. Nganang, a Professor of Cultural Studies and Comparative literature at Stony Brook University in New York State, was detained for allegedly critiquing Cameroon’s President, Paul Biya, in an article on the website Jeune Afrique.

Nganang was reported missing from the Douala airport in Cameroon, where he was preparing to take a Kenya Airways flight to Zimbabwe to visit his family.

As PEN America writes:

Investigating corruption or commenting unfavorably on political or human rights issues frequently results in official repercussions for writers and journalists in Cameroon. Nganang is only the latest example of a string of writers commenting on sensitive subjects who risk police questioning, lawsuits, detention, or imprisonment.

PEN South Africa calls for the immediate release of Patrice Nganang.

Signed:
PEN South Africa Board