“Operation Fall the Beard” set for July 3rd after eight-month wait
The long-awaited public shaving ceremony for veteran journalist Souley Onohiolo is scheduled to take place this Friday at noon in Yaoundé. This event will mark the conclusion of a remarkable personal commitment that began eight months ago.
The initiative, dubbed Operation Fall the Beard, was launched as a symbolic protest tied to the journalist’s pledge not to trim his facial hair until President Paul Biya, re-elected in October 2025, reshuffled his government—a move that never materialized during the waiting period.
The organizing committee released an official statement announcing that the ceremony will be held at the Botanik’s Beauty Center in the Essos neighborhood of Yaoundé. The event carries the high patronage of Dieudonné Mveng Balla, founder of the television channel Info TV.
The statement describes the occasion as “a singular and unprecedented event” that will bring together Cameroon’s media elite and international colleagues to celebrate a man whose silent eight-month protest—characterized by an unkempt beard and untrimmed hair—has evolved into a powerful civic statement.
After eight months of maintaining his pledge without any government reshuffle in sight, Souley Onohiolo has reluctantly decided to end his symbolic resistance. The organizing committee emphasized that the July 3rd ceremony represents not just the conclusion of a personal challenge, but the closing of a chapter that has resonated with both supporters and observers alike.
“This was never just about hair—it was a symbol of resistance, a mark of civic engagement, and a firm desire to impact society and shift paradigms,” the committee noted. “This story will reach its conclusion on July 3rd in front of the press and those who have followed this extraordinary journey from afar or up close.”
