Cameroon
Tuesday 23.10.2018 Cameroon - Latest Developments -
Civic space violations following contested presidential elections
In the run-up to the announcement of the election results on 22nd October 2018, several civic space violations took place, including the banning of protests and gatherings, the arrest of journalists and internet restrictions. Read more
Thursday 4.10.2018 Cameroon - Latest Developments -
Intensification of conflict in Anglophone Cameroon: citizens targeted
Violence and human rights violations in the ongoing conflict between armed separatist in the two Anglophone and government forces have reached unprecedented levels in the past few months. According to the International Crisis Group, at least 400 civilians in the Anglophone regions were killed in the last year, besides 170 military and police officers, and hundreds of separatists. A particularly worrying development in the conflict is the targeting of the population by both government forces and separatists, the forming of pro-government militias and criminal small groups, said the conflict watchdog. Read more
Friday 1.6.2018 Cameroon - Latest Developments -
Human rights defenders face threats and judicial harassment
The military court of Yaoundé found seven Anglophone activists guilty on several charges during a trial on 26th April. This includes Mancho Bibixy, a journalist for Bamenda FM who reported on the rights of Cameroonian Anglophone citizens, and worked with the civil society consortium to report human right violations. Read more
Friday 23.3.2018 Cameroon - Latest Developments -
Tensions remain high as internet is restored in Angolphone areas
Internet access has been restored, as tensions remain high following recent violence in Anglophone areas and renewed attacks by Boko Haram. Read more
Wednesday 31.1.2018 Cameroon - Latest Developments -
Fears of further crackdown in deepening Anglophone crisis
What began as civil society protests and civil disobedience campaigns led by lawyers and teachers' unions over the marginalisation of peoples in the two Anglophone regions of Cameroon in November 2016 spiraled out of control after a violent crackdown on the protests. Read more
Tuesday 10.10.2017 Cameroon - Latest Developments -
Deadly repression of protests amid partial internet shutdown in Anglophone Cameroon
Soldiers killed at least eight protesters and wounded many others, during pro-independence protests on 1st October 2017 in different parts of the two Anglophone regions - North West and South West - of the country. Military forces were deployed and security forces used live ammunition and tear gas against protesters, and clashes between protesters and security forces were reported. According to a press release of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), the Central Africa Human Rights Defenders Network (REDHAC) received reports of 30 killings after the use of real bullets and the use of teargas in the run-up to, during the protests on 1st October and afterwards, while some local activists - in conversations with CIVICUS - estimate that the real number is over 100 people killed. The protests were held on 1st October to commemorate the 56th anniversary of the proclamation of Anglophone Cameroon's independence from Britain. The protests also denounced the marginalisation of Cameroonian citizens in the Anglophone regions. In the run-up to the protests, authorities had banned gatherings larger than four people, businesses were shut down and the freedom of movement of citizens was severely restricted in the two regions. The government also closed the border with Nigeria. Read more
Tuesday 1.8.2017 Cameroon - Latest Developments -
Journalists and activists remain in detention on terrorism charges
Despite the gradual restoration of internet in the two Anglophone regions, many activists, lawyers and journalists who were arrested since the start of the crisis which started with a strike of lawyers in the Anglophone regions of the country in October 2016 are standing trial under the 2014 Anti-Terrorism Law, which carries a maximum sentence of death penalty. Read more
Friday 21.4.2017 Cameroon - Latest Developments -
Cameroon's crackdown continues as journalist convicted on terrorism charges
Cameroonian authorities continue to target groups in Anglophone regions of the country as RFI correspondent Ahmed Abba faces live in jail after being convicted of terrorism-related offenses. Read more
Tuesday 14.2.2017 Cameroon - Latest Developments -
Protest leaders on trial as resistence in Anglophone cameroon continues
Three leaders of the Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium are facing grave charges in a politically-motivated trial linked to ongoing protests in the South West and North West of the country. Read more
Thursday 27.10.2016 Cameroon - Latest Developments -
Judge rejects expert report in trial of RFI journalist
A judge in Cameroon gave hope to detained journalist Ahmed Abba by rejecting an expert report introduced by the prosecution in the trial against him. Read more