Cameroon: Jail term, heavy fine dangles over traditional ruler for xenophobic campaign

Chief Moja Moja of Bwassa village in the South West region of Cameroon has been facing backlash over comments he made regarding non-indigenes.

In a series of videos he is seen threatening to kill those of North West origin if they don’t leave the South West region.

While many have said his grievances may be legitimate, his extreme stance is what has gotten many on edge and are calling for his arrest.

If arrested, charged and found guilty of contempt of tribe or ethnic group, he may serve a term of one to two years in prison, according to Section 241, subsection 1 of the 2019 law on hate speech.

The law which amends and supplements some provisions of law No. 2016/7 of 12 July 2016 relating to the penal code adds that the jail term shall be accompanied with a fine if 300,000 FCFA to 3 million FCFA.

“Where the author of the hate speech is a public servant … a leader of a political party, of the media, of a Non-Governmental Organisation or a religious institution, the punishment provided for in subsection 1 above shall be doubled and the benefit of mitigating circumstances shall not be given,” reads Section 241, subsection 1 of the law.

Meantime, authorities are maintaining a suspicious silence over the Chief’s outing, a move interpreted by many as complicity.
The state counsel of Buea is expected to prove the independence of the judiciary and start proceedings against Chief Moja Moja.

Mimi Mefo Info