US report paints a lackluster picture of Cameroon

The report of the US State Department on human rights for 2015 has just been published.

Almost all international reports on human rights pin Cameroon. The 40th Report of the US State Department on the human rights situation in the world is no exception to the rule. Officially presented on April 13, 2016, in Washington by John Kerry, US Secretary of State, the report of 2015, presents a lackluster picture of individual freedoms in the country of Paul Biya.

Longevity in power

Le Jour newspaper of April 20 focuses on the report, noting that “in the section devoted to our country, the main idea behind this is that civil liberties in our country have fallen back over the last year”. In this regard, the report highlights the very first sentence that “Cameroon is a republic dominated by a strong presidency. The country has a multiparty system, but the CPDM has remained in power since it was created in 1985 “.

In the same vein, reports our colleague, the document notes that “Paul Biya, in power since 1982, was re-elected in 2011 in an election marked by some irregularities, certainly considered without much impact by observers.“

Conditions of detention

The report also denounces the conditions of detention in prisons in Cameroon. “In August, the country’s prisons, which have a capacity of 17 000 prisoners, are counting 27 702. According to the Justice Minister, who was speaking during a cabinet meeting on August 28,” .

As expected, the report also reviews the fight against the terrorist group Boko Haram. In this regard, mention is made of arbitrary arrest and detention.

The Marafa Case

As in the past, the report focuses on the Marafa Hamidou Yaya Case, the former minister who is serving a sentence of 25 years in prison for embezzlement of public money. The Americans argue about it that “The former minister of territorial administration, Marafa Hamidou Yaya, accused of corruption in 2012 and sentenced to 25 years in prison remained in custody.

During that year, the Government had refused any regular access to him. On July 3, Saskia Ditisheim, the Swiss lawyer of Marafa and his local colleague, Alice Nkom, were expelled from the General Hospital of Yaounde during a visit to their client who was receiving treatment for a few weeks. “

The report also speaks of non-compliance with certain public and individual freedoms. Issa Tchiroma, the government spokesman made an exit in the last few days to denounce a “false report of the USA.” The Minister of Communication thus has another opportunity to call on the press.