Public meetings, processions warned to respect legality

The holding of public meetings and manifestations which has recently been the subject of debate, is governed by the law.

On March 29, 2016, a group of political party leaders had their press conference in the headquarters of one of the parties in the Odza neighbourhood of Yaounde, banned by the Divisional Officer of Yaounde IV barely hours before it started on grounds of non-declaration of public meeting.

On April 30, 2016, another public rally of the Cameroon Renaissance Movement (CRM) could not hold in Bertoua, chief town of East Region as the Divisional Officer (DO) of the area slammed a ban on grounds of insecurity in the East Region.

These situations are more and more recurrent in many parts of the country, giving the impression that the administration and the population go divergent paths as far as public liberties and rule of law are concerned.

Public meetings and processions in Cameroon are regulated by Law No. 90/055 of 19 November, 1990. According to the legal instrument, organisers must declare the said gathering at least three days (for meetings) and seven days (for manifestations) before it holds to the administrative authority of the jurisdiction, stating clearly the objectives, place and date of the meeting.

The administrative authority issues an acknowledgement receipt which gives the organisers the leeway to go on with the meeting. The administrative authority however has the duty to ensure peace and security and would not hesitate to ban any such meetings if peace and security are likely to be threatened.

This explains why the Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralisation, René Emmanuel Sadi, while addressing the ten regional Governors in Yaounde recently, stressed that administrative authorities must be more vigilant and ensure legality especially in the present context of the existence of Administrative Courts. He stated that many litigations involving administrative authorities are already being recorded in court.

René Emmanuel Sadi pointed out that the consolidation of the rule of law and public freedoms which are guided by the law must be guaranteed without prejudice. While respecting the laws, administrative authorities have the duty to ensure peace and security in the interest of the public so that socio-economic development thrives.