French embassy confirms mysterious death of vice-consul of Douala.

The Frenchman, Christian André Marie Hue, who was head of Chancery at the Consulate General of France in Douala, died last Friday under unclear circumstances.

He was reportedly found hanging in a building in Douala. Rumour of him allegedly committing suicide went viral on social media over the weekend.

The French embassy had initially merely sounded an alert on his disappearance in a statement published on the embassy’s official website, last Friday.

But in an updated statement published on same website yesterday, the embassy confirmed the death of the senior consulate staff, before announcing that an investigation has been opened on the incident.

“The Embassy of France in Cameroon was deeply saddened to learn of the sudden death of Mr Christian Hué, Head of Chancery at the Consulate General of France in Douala, on 18 August 2023,” partly read the statement.

It quickly added that: “an investigation is underway to shed light on the causes and circumstances of this tragic event”.

“The Ambassador of France and all French officials in Cameroon share the grief of Mr Hué's family and friends, and express their deepest condolences,” added the statement.

Controversy trails demise

The death of Christian André Marie Hue is said to have plunged the diplomatic community into astonishment and incomprehension. 

The exact circumstances surrounding his death remains unclear, fueling speculation and questioning.

According to several concordant sources, the diplomat was found hanged with a rope in his residence in the Nkongmondo neighborhood in Douala. 

His body is said to have been discovered Saturday afternoon. Although the first clues suggest an act of suicide by hanging, the reasons that led to the demise of the Frenchman remain unknown. 

Born on June 7, 1957, in Mazingarbe, France, Christian André Marie Hue, was until his demise, the Deputy Consul of France in Douala and Head of Chancellery at the Consulate General of France in Douala.