Unconstitutional Laws Limit Free Speech and Punish Journalists In Cameroon

BY: PARFAIT TAIWÉ

Cameroon's constitution supports communication, expression, and press freedom, but not African Internet rights.

[{"selector":"#anim-d7296139-cfe5-4316-b64d-1503e9c0b78b [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 2.7581644055565207e-7%) scale(0.9090909090909091)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6d0fbad9-8498-49ec-9ca6-35cae494b66a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-70bf2023-7efe-45ea-9c4e-018ab0dc05a7","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 124.03382%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Freedom of opinion, expression, and internet access should be unrestricted, except by lawful, legitimate aims.

[{"selector":"#anim-44314c24-d054-40d7-a24b-0f50fb2eff9f [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 2.7581644055565207e-7%) scale(0.9090909090909091)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-103253a4-8e56-4eac-9fdf-8a10eb87f471","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a946f3cf-d3fd-4745-9405-f737983008d3","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 124.03382%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

In Africa, the internet's promise as a peaceful, facilitating force remains elusive, marred by risks.

[{"selector":"#anim-ea73a69f-fb5e-4aaf-a4e9-6b67017ffa90 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 2.7581644055565207e-7%) scale(0.9090909090909091)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5c0ab397-04f0-4ce7-afee-87718a5c28bf","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6fec7a2e-b551-45df-a9a2-b25739d4cb2a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 120.42043%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Cameroon faces digital freedom issues, rated "non-free" (D) in a 2023 French Development Agency report.

[{"selector":"#anim-5b22baff-c58c-4c5d-9bf7-cbcde4f6bf47 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 2.7581644055565207e-7%) scale(0.9090909090909091)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8c3eaffa-6240-470f-b54d-a677e4bff63f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0ccbe6b2-15af-47e5-a795-11d4ea4a4978","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 118.59905%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Cameroon restricts free speech with vague laws, targeting government critics on social media platforms.

[{"selector":"#anim-cb1afb26-796a-4246-b92e-20ea5858301a [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 2.7581644055565207e-7%) scale(0.9090909090909091)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-042cfb83-35b5-47a3-b48a-98cc09552aaa","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d10894dd-c74d-457c-8652-43a4fc77fe10","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 118.59905%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

In Cameroon, journalists face arrests for spreading information, while activists are detained without legal basis.

[{"selector":"#anim-803415cd-4f61-43f5-8b1f-c72cde8b8e93 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 2.7581644055565207e-7%) scale(0.9090909090909091)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5b14461b-426e-40ae-b817-d2800a093712","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5aed0087-e76d-477e-8be0-7965600c7020","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 118.59905%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Cameroon surveils minorities, LGBTQ+, with strict online content rules and harsh penalties.

[{"selector":"#anim-1f095937-34d0-44a4-b30d-a8605f0b30f3 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 2.7581644055565207e-7%) scale(0.9090909090909091)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4b232558-7705-4217-bb82-1c044b316da4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-26a61b23-5f5f-4f13-950d-66de2162ea51","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 119.48806%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Freedom of expression, crucial for journalists, upheld by Munich Charter, essential for democracy in Cameroon.

[{"selector":"#anim-5920eb87-27aa-4063-9a74-0048c6e0843a [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-3.0385962046260433%, 2.7581644055565207e-7%) scale(0.9090909090909091)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-68dee67d-2608-4821-8f5e-5b4caa7dbccd","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3dac204c-5bb8-487c-8ffb-1b981272dd13","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 124.03382%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

CLICK HERE TO READ

[{"selector":"#anim-da992e20-5a45-44a0-827e-be1b63f80231","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(1)","scale(1.5)","scale(0.95)","scale(1)"],"offset":[0,0.33,0.66,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"ease-in-out","fill":"both","iterations":1}]