Burkina Faso/Côte d’Ivoire: When a mercenary Cameroonian journalist is paid to maintain tension. Who is hiding behind the sulphurous Saïd Penda?
According to multiple Ivorian and Cameroonian sources, Saïd Penda operates more as a mercenary than a journalist. Allegedly recruited by France’s DGSE, as claimed by Cameroonian authorities, his mission appears to be targeting individuals and governments that oppose France’s interests.
Residing in Côte d’Ivoire, Saïd Penda is said to have established a network of schemes aimed at extorting large sums of money from Ivorian authorities.
His strategy reportedly begins with ingratiating himself with influential figures, including a younger brother of President Alassane Ouattara, seeking protection under the guise of supporting the presidency.
With this backing, Penda allegedly builds his operation, focusing first on uncovering incriminating information or documents. Using these materials, he engages in blackmail, targeting high-ranking officials like directors-general and ministers.
According to sources close to Penda, he approaches these individuals to negotiate silence, demanding significant sums to avoid public exposure. Several prominent figures have reportedly paid him hundreds of millions of CFA francs to escape scandal, with the proceeds being distributed within his network.
In some cases, Penda allegedly contacts rivals vying for the same positions and aligns himself with the highest bidder. Those unable to meet his demands are publicly exposed, further entrenching his network of influence and intimidation.
This extortion network, reminiscent of tactics commonly referred to as « Fémania » in Cameroon, thrives under the alleged protection of high-ranking officials, enabling Penda to operate unchecked.
Leveraging false claims of protection from the highest authorities, he continues to extort funds from his victims while avoiding public scrutiny.
Reports suggest that Penda’s so-called investigations are built on fabrications, deliberate misinformation, and blackmail. For example, in matters related to the AES, the DGSE is said to have supplied Penda with false information to discredit AES officials. He allegedly relayed these falsified details to Ivorian authorities, presenting them as findings from his own investigations.
Furthermore, Penda has been accused of collaborating with the DGSE to disseminate misleading information about Burkinabe authorities, purportedly to maintain tensions between Burkina Faso and Côte d’Ivoire.
Among those allegedly supporting Penda’s activities is Alpha Barry, a former journalist and Burkina Faso’s ex-foreign minister now exiled in Côte d’Ivoire. Barry is described as a key player in the DGSE’s operations, with deeper revelations about his role expected to emerge.
One notable incident attributed to Penda involves a controversial publication on December 4 targeting Burkinabe authorities, purportedly intended to serve France’s interests amid growing tensions. Additionally, claims have surfaced about his involvement in sensitive cases such as the EBOMAF affair and issues related to Côte d’Ivoire’s Minister of Transport, Koné Mamadou.
As this saga unfolds, further revelations are anticipated, shedding light on Penda’s alleged activities and the network enabling his operations.
Olivier TOE
