SOPECAM (Société de Presse et d’Éditions du Cameroun) is a government-owned publishing and printing enterprise in Cameroon. It oversees the production of books, offers commercial printing services, and operates a media arm whose flagship publication is the Cameroon Tribune, the country’s most widely circulated and state-aligned daily newspaper.
Media assets
Publishing: Cameroon Tribune, Cameroon Business Today, Nyanga, Weekend Sports et Loisirs
State Media Matrix Typology
Ownership and governance
SOPECAM was originally established by Decree No. 77/250 of 1977, and later restructured under Decree No. 2016/216 of 2016 into a state-owned shareholding company. Though it now operates under a corporate legal framework, it remains fully owned by the Cameroonian government and is directly accountable to the Ministry of Communication. This structural framework has done little to insulate the organization from executive control.
Source of funding and budget
SOPECAM generates income through a hybrid model—commercial sales of books and printing services are supplemented by substantial state subsidies.
The Cameroon Tribune and other media products published by SOPECAM are heavily subsidized, with state allocations accounting for more than 50% of the newsroom’s operational budget. While some revenue stems from advertising, this income remains relatively modest.
Editorial independence
SOPECAM’s editorial output is closely aligned with the interests of the Cameroonian government. Its flagship title, the Cameroon Tribune, serves as a mouthpiece for official narratives, with editorial content often focusing on the promotion of government achievements and denunciation of opposition figures.
A 2024 content analysis carried out for this report confirms long-standing criticisms by academics and media watchdogs that SOPECAM operates as a propaganda vehicle, especially in the context of political campaigns or state policy rollouts. Independent or dissenting voices are almost entirely absent from its pages.
There is currently no legal statute, regulatory framework, or independent oversight mechanism in place to guarantee or assess the editorial autonomy of SOPECAM’s media outlets.
June 2025