Opposition Leaders and Civil Society Slam Cameroonian Government’s Threats to Critics

By Boris Esono Nwenfor

BUEA, Cameroon – Opposition leaders and civil society groups in Cameroon have condemned the government's recent threats against critics of President Paul Biya. These threats, which do not only target political opponents, and activists, have sparked fear of escalating repression in the country.

The government's warnings come amid increasing scrutiny of President Biya's administration, which has been in power for over four decades. It also comes when President Biya postponed Parliamentary and Municipal elections.

In a decree issued on July 16, Emmanuel Mariel Djikdent, the Senior Divisional Officer of Mfoundi, stated that “anyone who dangerously insults the [state] institutions or the person who embodies them,” could be banned from staying in the division. Djikdent issued this decree to “preserve public order.”

Two days later, René Emmanuel Sadi, Cameroon’s Minister of Communication, issued a press release stating that “it is unacceptable for compatriots […] to use irreverent language” about the president Paul Biya “who was freely and overwhelmingly elected by his fellow citizens.”

The opposition say they are not intimidated by threats from officials warning them to stop saying negative things about President Biya.

Paul Atanga Nji, Minister of Territorial Administration said democracy given to Cameroonians freely by Biya must be constructively used to build and not to destroy. He said all government and administrative officials should be firm in punishing opposition and civil society members who defy and insult state authority. Nji told state TV on Tuesday that opposition parties that call for protests against state officials will be arrested for rebellion, insurrection and treason.

Lewis, Mudge, Director, Central Africa, Human Rights Watch, has called on the government to revoke these decrees and ensure the right to freedom of expression. He added that it is becoming increasingly difficult to speak freely in Cameroon.  

These announcements are the latest in a series of troubling government decisions that appear to be aimed at stifling opposition and dissent ahead of the presidential elections in 2025.

In March, the territorial administration minister, Paul Atanga Nji, banned two opposition coalitions describing them as “clandestine movements.” In June, gendarmes in Ngaoundéré, Adamawa region, arbitrarily rearrested Aboubacar Siddiki, known as Babadjo, a prominent artist and member of the National Union for Democracy and Progress (Union Nationale pour la démocratie et le progrès), moments after he was released from prison following a three-month sentence for insulting a governor.

Ndah Grimbald, assistant secretary-general of the opposition Social Democratic Front Party, said Biya should emulate the example of U.S. President Joe Biden and hand over leadership to a dynamic civilian.

"Our president, Paul Biya, is 10 years older than Biden. He is 91 years [old] and instead of thinking [of] how to hand over power to the younger generation, his regime is doing everything to impede the rights, the fundamental rights of Cameroonians from assembling and discussing the affairs of their country," said Grimbald.

President Biya has won all elections since the return of multiparty politics in Cameroon in 1990. He has not said if he will be a candidate in the next presidential polls, but his party supporters have been organizing regular political rallies to urge him to run for re-election.

“Under international human rights law, the right to free speech may be restricted only on limited grounds, such as national security or to protect the rights of others, and even then, restrictions must be necessary, proportionate, and not discriminate,” Lewis, Mudge, Director, Central Africa, Human Rights Watch said.

“The divisional decree includes provisions that don’t meet this threshold and could be used to target critics discriminately and violate rights. As elections approach, authorities should fully respect the freedom of expression of all Cameroonians and revoke this decree.”