The city of Dschang, in western Cameroon, has been cast into uncertainty following the disappearance of its mayor, Jacquis Gabriel Kemleu Tchabgou. Sentenced to six months in prison on March 18, 2026, by the Dschang Correctional Court for corruption, the mayor remains untraceable. This disappearance occurs while his two collaborators are already serving their prison sentences, adding a layer of mystery to an already highly publicized legal case.
The court's verdict was definitive: Jacquis Gabriel Kemleu Tchabgou was found guilty. Although his age, over 60, prevents his actual imprisonment, his whereabouts have been unknown since the sentence was pronounced. His two collaborators, Dongmo Louis Sabato and Atonlekeu Rodrigue, were sentenced to two months in prison each and are currently behind bars.
Financially, the situation is equally concerning. The three convicts must jointly pay 1,435,360 FCFA in court costs, as well as 28,595,000 FCFA in damages to Saptrans SARL. The municipality of Dschang, declared civilly responsible, will therefore have to bear these costs, directly impacting local finances and taxpayers. The case involved accusations of abuse of power and destruction of property related to a modern technical inspection center project, where the mayor allegedly refused to issue a building permit despite the approval of several ministries.
The mayor's absence raises numerous questions about the management of the municipality. Who is running the day-to-day affairs? How will the municipality cope with these unforeseen expenses of more than 28 million FCFA? Have the authorities launched a search to find the elected official? For the time being, the silence of the authorities fuels speculation and concern among the population. The conviction of a sitting mayor is a rare event in Cameroon, but a disappearance under these circumstances is unprecedented and casts a shadow over the local administration.
