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Cameroonian Bishop Sosthène Bayemi of Obala is pictured in a Jan. 9. 2025, photo. Bishop Bayemi is facing accusations of alleged sexual misconduct following the circulation of a video on social media. In an Aug. 23 Facebook post, the Obala Diocese said an investigation is underway "with the relevant authorities," but local church leaders rejected the authenticity of the video, claiming it's AI-generated.
OSV News photo/Ngala Killian Chimtom
August 27, 2025
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Cameroonian Bishop Sosthène Bayemi of Obala is facing accusations of alleged sexual misconduct following the circulation of a video on social media.
While the diocese said “verification is underway with the relevant authorities,” local Church leaders rejected the authenticity of the video, claiming it is AI-generated.
The unverified footage allegedly depicts Bayemi making sexually inappropriate suggestions to a woman. The video was shared on social media by prominent local YouTube influencer N’Zui Manto.
The diocese responded by urging Christians to remain calm and avoid speculation.
“The diocesan communications department is aware of the recent circulation of videos concerning our bishop. Verification is underway with the relevant authorities and an official statement will be released soon,” said the diocesan communications team in a statement.
“Stay calm, don’t give in to rumours, keep following the pastoral activities of our diocese, and let’s be united in prayer.”
Fr. Humphrey Tatah Mbuy, a prominent intellectual and former communications director for the bishops’ conference, rejected the video’s authenticity, asserting it was an AI-fabrication intended to tarnish the bishop’s image.
The priest assumed the video was generated as “deepfake” — a video that has been altered by artificial intelligence or other editing software, typically to harm or spread false information.
“The least and very simple video maker can make you do what you have not done,” Mbuy said, adding that “this is part of what we call the wrong use of social media” and that the right of the public to the truth in the age of “fake news” is part of his recent academic research.
A version of this story appeared in the August 31, 2025, issue of The Catholic Registerwith the headline "Cameroon bishop caught up in ‘deepfake’ video".
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