Gilles Roger Belinga, the former General Manager of the Cameroon Real Estate Company (SIC), was released on Saturday, February 21, 2026, after serving 20 years in prison. His arrest two decades ago was part of Operation Sparrowhawk (Épervier), a government initiative to combat corruption in Cameroon.
Belinga was arrested and accused of embezzling public funds while he was head of SIC. The news of his release was met with a festive atmosphere at his home.
Operation Sparrowhawk, launched in 2006, aimed to clean up public management and rebuild social trust after contested elections. It led to the arrest of several senior officials, former ministers, and administrators. However, its effectiveness remains a subject of debate.
Gilles Roger Belinga was initially sentenced to 35 years in prison and ordered to pay 3 billion FCFA to the state. His sentence was later reduced on appeal to 20 years of imprisonment, and the fine was reduced to 233 million FCFA.
In 2004, Belinga published a laudatory book about President Biya and served his sentence without ever publicly criticizing the regime. His release, along with that of other figures from Operation Sparrowhawk, raises questions about the real impact of this initiative.
Alongside Belinga's release, Emmanuel Gérard Ondo Ndong, former General Manager of the Special Fund for Equipment and Intercommunal Intervention (FEICOM), was also released after 20 years in detention. These simultaneous releases raise questions about the social and professional reintegration of former senior officials who have served long sentences.
While Operation Sparrowhawk punished some individuals, it did not fundamentally transform the system. The release of Gilles Roger Belinga marks the end of a chapter in this anti-corruption operation, while leaving open questions about the future of the fight against corruption in Cameroon.
