Lawyers, civil society actors express concern over restriction of civic space in Cameroon.

They have also decried violations to freedom of expression or opinion, threats and intimidation overshadowing the democratic nation Cameroon ought to be. 

The group, coordinated by Barristers Akere Muna, Claude Assira and Alice Nkom, with the support of civil society organisations such as Network of Human Rights Defenders in Central Africa, REDHAC; Un Monde Avenir, Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Central Africa, CHRDA; voiced out their indignation at a press conference held at the headquarters of REDHAC in Douala.

The presser came in the wake of the arrest of social media activist, Junior Ngombe. Speaking on behalf of the group, human rights lawyer, Barrister Tamfu Richard, recalled the circumstances that led to the arrest of the social media activist.

He said on July 24, the young Junior Ngombe, 23, was arrested at 5p.m. in front of his shop in Douala without a warrant by three individuals, who were agents from the general intelligence. Ngombe, he said, was placed in custody at the Littoral Gendarmerie Legion. 

The following day, the lawyer said, "he was transferred to Yaounde as a common criminal or terrorist by three other elements to the State Secretary of Defense, SED”. 

Barrister Tamfu added that it was after many investigations that they got to find out that his arbitrary arrest was the consequence of his outings on a social media network through the "Youth Standing for Change", a platform within which Ngombe had called on Cameroonian youth to register massively on the electoral lists and criticised the ruling party on the management of public affairs.

“Ngombe was referred by the Government Commissioner to the Military Court of Yaoundé, where he was accused of inciting rebellion and spreading false news," Tamfu said.

Ngombe was then freed after a legal team, led by Barristers Akere Muna and Serge Emmanuel Chendjou, successfully secured his release.

Ngombe's arbitrary arrest has been likened to that of Steeve Akam aka Ramon Cotta, who was arrested in neighbouring Gabon on July 19. Prior to his arrest and subsequent extradition to Cameroon, Steeve Akam had criticised the government on social media.

Rights defenders say his extradited is in violation of international law, in this case the Geneva Convention of July 28, 1951, the Preamble of the constitution which states that, "no person may be disturbed on the basis of his or her origins, opinions or beliefs in religious, philosophical or political matters subject to respect for public order and good morals". 

"Freedom of communication, freedom of expression, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, freedom of association, freedom of association and the right to strike are guaranteed under the conditions laid down by law," the lawyers and civil society activists stated. 

They also quoted the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights in Article 9 and 19 which grants "everyone the right to express and disseminate their opinions within the framework of laws and regulations; the right to freedom of opinion and expression, which implies the right not to be worried for his opinions and that to seek, receive and spread, without regard to frontiers, information and ideas through any means of expression”. 

The rights advocates regretted the fact that Cameroon having ratified several national and international treaties which guarantee freedom of expression, “has in several occasions violated those treaties with arbitrary arrest and intimidation”.  

The coalition of lawyers and rights defenders, condemned such violation. They have taken up the responsibility to hold the Cameroonian government responsible “for cases of torture, inhumane and degrading treatment and forceful disappearance of these two activities or any other person”. 

They denounced any threat, intimidation and retaliation against online activists, democracy activists, human rights defenders and journalists as the 2025 elections approaches.

This story was first published in The Guardian Post issue N0:3191 of Tuesday August 06, 2024