Gérard Emmanuel Ondo Ndong, former General Manager of FEICOM, has expressed his gratitude to the Head of State, Paul Biya, for organizing the funeral of his mother, who passed away during his detention. This statement comes after serving a 20-year prison sentence for embezzlement of public funds.
Ondo Ndong was released on Saturday, February 21, 2026, reuniting with his family after a long ordeal. He was arrested in 2006 as part of Operation Sparrowhawk (Épervier), a campaign against corruption. Initially sentenced to 50 years in prison, his sentence was reduced to 20 years on appeal, then increased to 30 years by the Supreme Court before being reduced back to 20 years.
"20 years in prison, I am happy. Because by the grace of God, I was able to face this ordeal. I found all the members of my family, except my mother who passed away while I was in detention. I was struck because the Head of State allowed this funeral to take place with exceptional solemnity. As he had my mother buried solemnly, I express my gratitude and solemnly my thanks," said Gérard Emmanuel Ondo Ndong.
His arrest and conviction marked the beginning of Operation Sparrowhawk, an initiative aimed at cleaning up public finances in Cameroon. His release, along with that of Jules Roger Belinga, another figure in this operation, has reignited the debate on the effectiveness and future of this campaign.
The release of Ondo Ndong, after 20 years of detention, raises questions about the place that society and institutions reserve for him.
