Cameroon ranks top in the list of Jailers of Journalists
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Photo source: CPJ
“The number of journalists jailed around the world set another record in 2021. Invoking new tech and security laws, repressive regimes from Asia to Europe to Africa cracked down harshly on the independent press. A CPJ special report by Editorial Director Arlene Getz”.
Publish on 9 December 2021, The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) on their report have highlighted that the number of journalists jailed in 2021 is shocking and the highest ever. According to CPJ, “It’s been an especially bleak year for defenders of press freedom. CPJ’s 2021 prison census found that the number of reporters jailed for their work hit a new global record of 293, up from a revised total of 280 in 2020. At least 24 journalists were killed because of their coverage so far this year; 18 others died in circumstances too murky to determine whether they were specific targets.”
In Cameroon, journalists have continued to suffer persecution, censorship, kidnappings and illegal arrest and detentions. several journalists have been forced into exile in the likes MIMI Mefo, Nfor Hanson, and several others as a result of the threat of arrests and detention.
Within the context of the Anglophone crisis, Journalists reporting on the happenings on the ground have continuously been attacked by the state and non-state actors. Certain journalists like Samuel Wazizi (who died in detention) and Kingsley Njoka have especially suffered inhumane tortures at the hands of the military for issues related to their profession. in 2020, Samuel Wazizi, a Cameroonian journalist died while in detention
According to the CPJ report, Six (6) journalists were jailed in Cameroon in 2021, thereby ranking Cameroon among the top jailer of journalists globally.
China tops the world in the imprisonment of journalists worldwide as per the report from CPJ “China remains the world’s worst jailer of journalists for the third year in a row, with 50 behind bars. Myanmar soared to the second slot after the media crackdown that followed its February 1 military coup. Egypt, Vietnam, and Belarus, respectively, rounded out the top five.”
Berinyuy Cajetan is the founder and publisher of Human Rights and Legal Research Centre (HRLRC) since 2017. He has intensive experience in strategic communications for Civil Society Organizations, campaign and advocacy, and social issues. He has an intensive experiencing in human rights monitoring, documentation and reporting.
