Barrister Alice Nkom Snubs SDO’s Summon After Tearing Down Atanga Nji’s Seal

Human rights defender, Barrister Alice Nkom, did not yield to the summons of the Senior Divisional Officer of Wouri, Mvogo Syliac-Marie, who requested her presence at his office on Tuesday, December 10.

The summons came after she ripped off an administrative seal from her office door on Monday.

Alice Nkom, known for her outspoken stance against rights abuses in Cameroon, declared that the seal ordered by Territorial Administration Minister Paul Atanga Nji is illegal.

She also objected the summons of the SDO in a statement circulated this Tuesday afternoon. In the release, she expressed shock that the SDO summoned her through the Canton Bell Chiefdom, in Douala.

She did not attend the summons that was scheduled for 11 am Tuesday.

Suspension of NGOs

Last Friday, a release from the Minister of Territorial Administration, Paul Atanga Nji banned her organization, REDHAC 2.

It also suspended REDHAC 1 for three months.

The Minister claimed REDHAC violated laws governing NGOs in Cameroon and did not justify the destination of external funding it had received.

After the administrative decision, law enforcement officers in Douala sealed the REDHAC office and warned that the seal must remain intact.

But Barrister Nkom defied the warning. She used a scissors to remove the piece of paper placed on the door and told the media Minister Nji violated the Cameroon Penal Code.

She challenged authorities to arrest her if what she did was wrong.

Barrister Alice Nkom also joined dozens of civil society leaders in Cameroon to condemn the government decision.

They said the decision contradicted Cameroon’s obligations under international human rights laws, and demanded a reversal.

Aside from REDHAC, Minister Atanga Nji’s decision also affected renowned Buea-based NGO, Reach Out Cameroon.

The NGO, which has helped thousands of Anglophone Crisis victims, received a three-month suspension.

Nanje Foundation Inc was suspended for three months as well, while L’Association Charitable Socio-Culturelle du Cameroun was banned.