Yaounde – In Cameroon, torture and illegal detention have become hallmarks of a regime that thrives on brutality and repression. The public outcry following the harrowing torture of Barrister Tamfu Richard is just the latest episode in a grim saga spanning over four decades. Despite declarations from the Secretary of State for the Gendarmerie and the Delegate for National Security promising reform, these statements ring hollow. The Cameroonian government’s habitual issuance of memos and directives serves not as a genuine attempt at reform but as a smokescreen for its continued repression.
This is a regime whose survival is anchored in violence. For 42 years, Cameroonians have been held hostage by a leadership that mocks the rule of law. The torture of Barrister Tamfu is no anomaly; it is the predictable outcome of a system that has institutionalized brutality. From the Longue Longue torture incident to the atrocities in the Anglophone regions, the state’s reliance on repression is deeply ingrained in its governance model.
Memos and Commissions: A Charade of Accountability
In the wake of publicized abuses, the government routinely responds with proclamations of “swift action” or the establishment of a “commission of inquiry.” These measures are designed not to address the root causes of the problem but to pacify international and domestic critics. The aftermath is always the same: silence and inaction. Torture continues unabated, emboldened by the implicit endorsement of the regime’s highest authorities.
The roots of Cameroon’s systemic torture run deep. From training academies like EMIA and ENAM, where authoritarian command is emphasized over modern governance principles, to the unchecked powers granted to security forces, the state has legitimized repression. Torture is not merely a tool; it is a pillar supporting the regime’s existence. Without it, the current government would struggle to maintain control over a disillusioned and oppressed populace.
A Justice System that Betrays its People
The disparity in the treatment of perpetrators highlights the state’s hypocrisy. Soldiers responsible for the slaughter of over 400 civilians in the North, including women and infants, received negligible sentences of three years—punishments that often amount to nothing more than symbolic gestures. In contrast, peaceful protesters, such as militants from the MRC party, have been sentenced to as many as seven years in prison. This grotesque imbalance in justice sends a chilling message: the state values repression over fairness, and security forces can act with impunity.
High-profile cases, such as the disappearance of journalist Samuel Wazizi and the Ngarbuh Massacre, remain unresolved. The perpetrators are shielded, some even rewarded with promotions, while their victims and their families are left to suffer in silence. The soldiers themselves see through the charade, emboldened by the knowledge that their actions are not only tolerated but often celebrated by their superiors.
The atrocities in the Anglophone regions stand as a stark reminder of the regime’s willingness to wield torture as a weapon against dissent. Security forces, acting with staggering impunity, have publicly documented their barbarism, uploading videos of their crimes as acts of triumph. Lawyers, students, doctors, political leaders, and ordinary citizens have all been subjected to degrading and inhumane treatment. These acts are not isolated incidents; they are systemic, designed to instill fear and suppress resistance.
The Futility of Expecting Reform
Every memo, every directive from the defense ministry, is a hollow promise. These documents are not meant to change the reality on the ground; they are paper tigers, designed to placate a public that grows increasingly disillusioned. In truth, the regime thrives on torture and repression. It is its lifeblood, the mechanism by which it sustains its hold on power.
Without genuine accountability, without the dismantling of the structures that enable such atrocities, the situation will only worsen. Cameroon’s government has proven time and again that it has no intention of curbing its reliance on violence. For the people of Cameroon, the fight for justice remains an uphill battle against a regime that refuses to acknowledge their humanity.
The Biya regime has turned Cameroon into a theater of cruelty, where the rule of law is a farce, and human rights are trampled with impunity. Cameroonians must confront the harsh reality that their government, by its very nature, is incapable of reforming itself. True change will not come from the issuance of memos or the formation of commissions. It will require a fundamental overhaul of the state and a rejection of the violence that has defined its reign. Until then, the cycle of torture and repression will continue, leaving behind a trail of broken lives and shattered dreams.
