The mutilated body of a prominent Cameroonian journalist has been found near the capital Yaounde, five days after he was abducted by unidentified assailants.
Martinez Zogo, director of private radio station Amplitude FM, was kidnapped on January 17 as he tried to enter a police station to escape his attackers, media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said.
Zogo, presenter of the well-known daily programme Embouteillage (Gridlock), had recently been talking on-air about a case of alleged embezzlement involving a media outlet with government connections, RSF said.
On the air, the 51-year-old regularly tackled cases of corruption, not hesitating to question important personalities by name.
According to RSF, police in a Yaounde suburb heard a loud noise outside their police station and found Zogo’s badly damaged car at approximately 8pm (19:00 GMT) on Tuesday.
“Police saw a black vehicle… driving off. They later came to realise this was an abduction,” the organisation said.
Zogo’s colleague, Charlie Amie Tchouemou, editor-in-chief of Amplitude FM, confirmed Zogo’s abduction and subsequent death. The police and the government have not commented yet.
‘Victim of hatred and barbarism’
Media advocates described his disappearance and death as a further sign of the perils of reporting in the African country.
“Cameroonian media has just lost one of its members, a victim of hatred and barbarism,” the Cameroon Journalists’ Trade Union said in a statement.
“Where is the freedom of the press, freedom of opinion and freedom of expression in Cameroon when working in the media now entails a mortal risk?”
The incident is the latest in a string of attacks against journalists in Cameroon, which is ruled by President Paul Biya, who has a decades-long record of repressing opposition.
Cameroon is one of many countries across the continent, from Burkina Faso to Ethiopia to Equatorial Guinea, where journalists say media freedoms are under threat from authoritarian governments.
“Although Cameroon has one of the richest media landscapes in Africa, it is one of the continent’s most dangerous countries for journalists, who operate in a hostile and precarious environment,” RSF says in its Cameroon country profile.
In July 2015, Radio France Internationale reporter Ahmed Abba was arrested and imprisoned for two years on “terrorism” charges that rights groups denounced as a sham.
Outspoken reporter Paul Chouta, who worked for the private news website Cameroon Web, was beaten and stabbed by unknown attackers in 2019.
<img src="https://www.mtlblog.com/media-library/an-indoor-water-park-right-a-generated-photo-of-morea-water-park.jpg?id=60555115&width=1245&height=700&coordinates=0%2C0%2C0%2C0"/><br/><br/><p>In case you haven't heard, Quebec will soon get its own version of a tropical resort — and it's coming with waterslides, Polynesian cabanas, hotels, and even a 1,500-seat theatre.</p><p><span></span>Meet <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/indoor-waterpark-mirabel-quebec-name" target="_blank">Mōrea Parc Aquatique</a>, the massive indoor water park slated to open in Cité Mirabel by 2028. With over $175 million in private investment, the attraction is being designed as a full-on destination, not just a day trip.</p><p>Here's everything we know so far about what could become Quebec's most ambitious tourism project in a long time.</p><h3>What is Mōrea Parc Aquatique?</h3><br/><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DGbnYU2pGaz/" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);">
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DGbnYU2pGaz/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_top">See on Instagram</a>
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</blockquote><script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script><p>Mōrea is a world-class indoor water park and entertainment complex inspired by the islands of French Polynesia. The project was <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/moana-parc-aquatique-is-being-built-in-quebec-over-the-next-few-years" target="_blank">originally announced in 2021 as the MOANA Aquatics Centre</a><em><a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/moana-parc-aquatique-is-being-built-in-quebec-over-the-next-few-years">MOANA Aquatics Centre</a></em> but rebranded and relaunched after pandemic-related delays. Now, with construction expected to start in summer 2026, it's officially back on track.</p><h3>Where is it being built?</h3><br/><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DHWydHipaz7/?img_index=1" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);">
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DHWydHipaz7/?img_index=1" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_top">See on Instagram</a>
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</blockquote><script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script><p>Mōrea is being built in Cité Mirabel, about 45 minutes north of Montreal, near exit 28 on Highway 15, along Chaumont Street.</p><h3>What will it include?</h3><br/><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DI7DTg1xXDV/" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);">
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DI7DTg1xXDV/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_top">See on Instagram</a>
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</blockquote><script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script><ul><li>20+ water attractions, including a water roller coaster, indoor surf zone, lazy river, and interactive play areas</li><li>One top-secret slide teased as the "first of its kind on the planet"</li><li>An 11-storey parking facility</li><li><a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/water-park-quebec-mirabel-wave-pool" target="_blank">No wave pool</a> — a deliberate choice by developer Ray Junior Courtemanche, who says wave pools take up too much space, use excessive water, and increase the risk of injury</li><li>Two hotels connected by a sky bridge</li><li>Full spa and wellness centre</li><li>Restaurants, boutiques, and rooftop reception spaces</li><li>A 70,000-square-foot convention centre</li><li>A 1,500-seat theatre for shows and large events</li></ul><h3>Why the Disney comparison?</h3><br/><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DHbYpyqOkig/" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);">
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DHbYpyqOkig/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_top">See on Instagram</a>
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</blockquote><script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script><p>Mōrea was initially announced in 2021 under the name "MOANA Aquatics Centre," which shares its name with Disney's 2016 animated film "Moana." However, the project was later rebranded to "Mōrea Parc Aquatique" to establish its own identity.</p><p>While it's not affiliated with Disney, the scale and vision behind Mōrea are reminiscent of major theme parks. With immersive theming, on-site lodging, a mascot, and entertainment venues, it's being billed as a full family-focused experience.</p><h3>When will it be open to the public?</h3><br/><img alt="An indoor water park." class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="2f6c53aad97460f786834aa240199851" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="b75a6" loading="lazy" src="https://www.mtlblog.com/media-library/an-indoor-water-park.jpg?id=60554280&width=980"/><p>The first phase, including the Polynesian-style water park and one hotel, is expected to open in 2028. More elements — like the convention centre and theatre — will follow.</p><h3>Why is it a big deal?</h3><br/><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DKIf0O4skio/" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);">
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DKIf0O4skio/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_top">See on Instagram</a>
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</blockquote><script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script><ul><li>It may end up being the largest indoor water park ever built in Canada</li><li>The project is expected to create over 1,000 jobs</li><li>It's being billed as a year-round tourism anchor for the Laurentians</li></ul><div><br/></div><p><em>Love this? Check out our <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/notices/" target="_blank">MTL Blog noticeboard</a> for details on jobs, benefits, travel info and more!</em></p>
<p><em>AI tools may have been used to support the creation or distribution of this content; however, it has been carefully edited and fact-checked by a member of MTL Blog's Editorial team. For more information on our use of AI, please visit our <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/editorial-standards" target="_blank">Editorial Standards page</a>.</em></p>
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