51 Cameroonians including Lawyers, Civil Society Actors, and Journalists petitioned the Cameroonian President to take Action against Acts of Torture
2 min read
On November 6, 2024, as President Paul Biya was celebrating his 42 years in power, fifty-one (51) Cameroonians including lawyers, political leaders, human rights activists, women leaders, civil society organizations and ordinary citizens wrote to President Paul Biya in a letter entitled “Initiative Against Acts of Torture in Cameroon”. The letter was to tell the president of the Republic to take action against acts of torture especially in relation to known cases that were highlighted in the letter.
The president was petitioned at the right time as Cameroon is preparing to appear before the Committee
Against Torture in Geneva on November 13th, 2024. It puts an additional layer of pressure on the
Government that has done little to curb human rights violations over the years. High level
government officials have often been accused of being perpetrators as in the Martinez Zogo and
Longue Longue cases.
It is worth noting that, within the last two weeks, multiple videos of torture and degrading treatment on
citizens in detention by the forces of law and order have circulated online. As stated in their press released, two cases of death in detention have occurred and where thousands are under arrest illegally and arbitrarily; citizens are coming together to demand that their head of state “take all measures to effectively put an end to acts of torture and grievous human rights violations in Cameroon”.
The letter is segmented into four parts and successfully:
• Describes the national, continental and international legal framework that forbids all acts
of torture, illegal and arbitrary arrest, forced disappearances and extrajudicial killings as
well as violence against specific groups, notably journalists and women.
• Cites emblematic cases where the above violations have occurred throughout the
Cameroonian system of law and order. It concludes that the recurrence of these acts of
torture throughout the country and in all the different armed forces indicates a systemic
problem which is tolerated by hierarchy.
• Recommends key actions to be carried out in the short and medium term.
• Provides a detailed annex on emblematic cases that illustrate the extent to which these
grievous violations of human rights are a problem in the country.
The signature of the letter by multiple household names in Cameroon coming from a wide variety of
sectors and representing various parts of the country shows that for a large number of
Cameroonians the red line has been crossed where human rights violations are concerned, and
they are willing to come together to put an end to these violations..
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.
