Earlier this month, Johann Adriel Sitchom Kuate arrived at the national radio station in Yaoundé’s Nlongkak district, claiming to carry critical documents of national importance. Witnesses described the papers as convincingly authentic in appearance.

One document purported to be a presidential decree appointing a vice president of the Republic, a move typically announced on air for public awareness.

Suspicious staff at the Cameroon Radio Television (CRTV) immediately notified senior state officials, including those accompanying President Paul Biya in Geneva, where he has been since June 7. Investigations confirmed the documents were forged, and the name on the decree matched that of Johann Adriel Sitchom Kuate.

Was this an isolated act of delusion or a calculated attempt to destabilize institutions, some have labeled it a bid for an institutional coup? The ongoing investigation has led to charges of attempting to undermine state security, a serious allegation Johann Adriel Sitchom Kuate now faces.