Author: Justus Akamin
Buea, Ambazonia – On November 27, 2024, the legal profession within the Common Law community of Southern Cameroons was once again violently assaulted, this time in Douala, where Barrister Tamfu Richard, a renowned human rights lawyer, faced brutal treatment at the hands of Cameroon’s gendarmes. If anything. the attack on Tamfu highlights the worsening state of justice in Cameroon, particularly for Southern Cameroonians, as well as the systemic impunity that fuels such atrocities.Tamfu’s ordeal began when he intervened to challenge the unlawful arrest of one of his clients at the Groupement de Gendarmerie in Bonanjo, Douala. Upon stopping at the…
The Hague – The Pan African Forum Ltd, an African lobby group based in Kenya, has filed a landmark petition with the International Criminal Court (ICC), calling for an investigation into alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity linked to Cameroon’s President Paul Biya. The 142-page application, submitted on Friday, November 22, 2024, seeks accountability for atrocities committed during the ongoing conflict in the Southern Cameroons/Ambazonia.The petition accuses Biya’s regime of orchestrating grave human rights violations, including the deliberate targeting of civilians, forced displacements, extrajudicial killings, and widespread destruction of property. The Pan African Forum Ltd has supported its application…
Bafoussam – In a tragic incident that took place Thursday, December 5, and sent shock waves in the city of Bafoussam, Cameroon, an 11-year-old boy fatally stabbed his father in their home at around 7 PM. The father had been resting when the child launched the unexpected attack. Despite his injuries, the man managed to call out to neighbors, who rushed him to the hospital. Sadly, he succumbed to his wounds shortly after arrival.During questioning, the boy revealed a startling motive. He confessed that he wanted to reunite with his mother, whom he claimed his father had prevented him from…
Yaounde, Cameroon – A broad coalition of Cameroonian lawyers, religious leaders, civil society members, and political figures has petitioned President Paul Biya of Cameroon to address and halt human rights violations frequent in the country. The petition stems from widespread concern over the government’s reported abuses, particularly in the English regions, where conflicts between separatists and state forces have led to brutal incidents. Reports indicate government forces have committed acts including extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests, and violent reprisals against civilians.The petitioners highlighted a series of emblematic cases, including the torture and death of journalist Martinez Zogo, the killing of Samuel…
Botswana recently saw a seismic shift in its political landscape with Duma Boko sworn in as the country’s sixth president on November 1, 2024. This historic moment ended nearly six decades of rule by the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), which had governed the country since its independence from Britain in 1966. Boko, the leader of the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), achieved victory by forming alliances with other opposition groups to oust the incumbent president Mokgweetsi MasisiThe 2024 election results were a landmark in Botswana’s democracy, often cited as one of Africa’s strongest. The BDP’s fall from power was attributed…
UN – In 2023, a staggering 85% of African children affected by polio lived in fragile and conflict-affected regions, according to UNICEF. This alarming statistic highlights the significant challenges of eradicating polio in areas plagued by instability, poor healthcare infrastructure, and constant violence.Polio, once close to being eradicated globally, has seen a resurgence in some African nations where conflict disrupts healthcare services. War-torn countries like Somalia, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and parts of Nigeria are among the worst-hit. Conflict prevents children from accessing life-saving vaccines, and insecurity hampers the ability of health workers to carry out…
Yaounde – Thirty Southern Cameroonian detainees in Yaoundé were scheduled for release on Monday, October 21, marking a potential breakthrough in the ongoing conflict between Ambazonia and Cameroon. These individuals were among 37 Ambazonians who were abducted by Nigerian security forces, in cooperation with Cameroonian authorities, during a football game. After their abduction, they were illegally transferred to Cameroon—an act that the Abuja High Court ruled was unlawful—where they were subjected to trial by a military tribunal.In a recent development, the Yaoundé Court of Appeal ordered the release of 30 of these detainees, while the judgments for the remaining seven…