By Synthia Lateu
The United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations has condemned the “unlawful” detention of a U.S. citizen in Cameroon.
In a letter addressed to Lejeune Mbella Mbella, Cameroon’s Minister of External Relations, and made public, Committee Chairman James E. Risch expressed serious concern over the detention, stating that the circumstances suggest violations of Cameroonian law and abuse of diplomatic influence by a top Cameroonian official.
Senator Risch highlighted the case of two American citizens: Dr. Amber Murrey-Ndewa, a Fulbright scholar, and her husband, Mr. Derogy Ndewa. According to the letter, credible reports indicate that politically motivated legal actions have been initiated against the couple over a housing dispute involving Ambassador André Magnus Ekoumou and his wife, Claire Ekoumou.
Mr. Ndewa, a Cameroonian-born, US citizen, has been in “Continued pre-trial detention since March 12, 2025, despite initial investigative findings showing no basis for the cyberdefamation charges filed against him or his wife. His detention appears unlawful, ” the letter stated. “Dr. Murrey also faces the risk of arrest.”
Senator Risch expressed regret over the Cameroonian government’s handling of the case, saying it raises serious concerns about due process and judicial impartiality.
He warned that Mr. Ndewa’s continued detention and Dr. Murrey’s potential prosecution could strain the long-standing diplomatic relationship between the United States and Cameroon.
Senator Risch urged the Cameroonian government to grant immediate consular access to Mr. Ndewa by the U.S. Embassy, ensure that both he and Dr. Murrey receive fair legal treatment under Cameroonian law, and allow the family to depart the country safely and without delay once the matter is resolved. He also noted that the couple is raising three young children in Cameroon. He emphasized that the safety and well-being of this American family are of paramount importance to the United States.
The story behind the arrest dates back to March when the couple reportedly paid for an apartment for their trip in Cameroon. The apartment is owned by the Cameroon Ambassador to France. Sources said the owners decided not to continue with the new tenants and when they criticised the abrupt termination of their contract terms, the Cameroonian-born was manhandled and locked up.
Eventually because he had posted the matter on his social media platform, he was being detained for cybercrime.
