In Cameroon, a case that has shaken the Western region has taken a new turn. Charly Constant Noussi Pokam, traditional chief of the Baloum group, has been arrested by the gendarmerie after being wanted in connection with an investigation opened following the deaths of two young people.

According to Koaci, the paramount chief of Baloum was captured a few hours after an urgent arrest warrant was issued. Journal du Cameroun had previously reported that he was the subject of an arrest warrant issued in connection with this case.

An arrest warrant was issued after the tragedy

The case dates back to early June 2026. The events reportedly took place in the Baloum area, located in the Penka-Michel district of the Menoua department. The two young men involved were allegedly implicated in a theft before losing their lives in circumstances that sparked widespread outrage.

Reports from Cameroonian media indicate that judicial authorities and the gendarmerie intervened after highly sensitive material circulated on social media. AfrikMag is not publishing these images, nor the most graphic details, out of respect for the victims and their families.

According to Journal du Cameroun, a message carried by the gendarmerie legion of the West asked the forces of order to actively search for the traditional chief and to bring him before the unit in charge of the investigation in the event of arrest.

The chief of Baloum is now in the hands of the authorities

The traditional chief has finally been arrested, according to Koaci, which cites the national gendarmerie. He is now reportedly in the hands of the competent authorities, in accordance with the instructions related to the arrest warrant.

This arrest does not yet mean a conviction. At this stage, responsibilities must be established through investigation and the courts. The principle of presumption of innocence applies, even though the case has already provoked strong indignation in Cameroonian public opinion.

The case is particularly sensitive because it involves a traditional authority, a figure supposed to embody local order, the protection of populations and mediation in the community.

This case reignites the debate on private justice.

Beyond the case of Baloum, this affair revives an old debate in Cameroon and several African countries: what to do in the face of accusations of theft, local rumors and collective violence that may follow before any judicial decision?

Human rights organizations regularly reiterate that anyone accused must be handed over to the appropriate authorities and afforded due process. Sanctions, when they exist, must be imposed by the justice system and not by private or community decisions.

In this case, the authorities now want to determine what actually happened, who gave the orders, who participated in the events, and what legal action should be taken. The progress of the investigation will be closely monitored, as it could send an important signal regarding the fight against extrajudicial violence.

Emotion and expectation of justice

The deaths of the two young men have sparked anger, sadness, and calls for justice on social media. For many Cameroonians, the arrest of the traditional chief marks an important step, but not the end of the case.

The victims' families are now waiting for the proceedings to move forward, for responsibilities to be clarified, and for those possibly involved to be held accountable for their actions before the law.

In such a serious case, caution remains necessary. But one thing is clear: the Baloum tragedy has deeply shocked public opinion, and the arrest of the traditional chief now places the case at the heart of Cameroonian legal news.