African Bar condemns attack on protesting lawyers in Cameroon

The African Bar Association (AFBA) has condemned in very strong terms the ‘Gestapo’ tactics employed by Cameroonian government and security agents to stop the peaceful protest against the suppression of English legal versions in the country. There were reported shooting in Bamenda, Buea and other Anglophone parts of Cameroon as lawyers and the civil society […]

The African Bar Association (AFBA) has condemned in very strong terms the ‘Gestapo’ tactics employed by Cameroonian government and security agents to stop the peaceful protest against the suppression of English legal versions in the country.

There were reported shooting in Bamenda, Buea and other Anglophone parts of Cameroon as lawyers and the civil society groups protested the assimilation of the English version of the Penal Code and the posting of French-speaking civil law judicial officers to English speaking Common Law parts of the country.

In a statement by Hannibal Uwaifo, AFBA expressed worry that the constitutionally bi-lingual Cameroon was descending into chaos under President Paul Biya’s regime.

“The brutalization of lawyers in their legitimate demand for justice in their country and the attempt to gag the press and curtail the right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly in Cameroon is an evil wind that blows the government of President Paul Biya no good,” he said.

“As history has taught us, victory for the oppressed people of Anglophone Cameroon is certain,” Uwaifo further said.

AFBA called on France to intervene in the matter, and vowed to take further steps in the local and international arena against the Government of Cameroon “and individuals responsible for these atrocities.”