Cameroon: Lawyers decry ill treatment, pressure Biya regime to review law creating BAR

By Amina Hilda

A majority of lawyers in Cameroon have decried what they say is a sharp rise in the violation of the rights in Cameroon.

They have now turned the heat on the Biya regime to review the law establishing the Cameroon Bar Association to meet up with contemporary demands.

The concerns were raised at a meeting in Douala recently. The gathering was chaired by the Interim Bar Council President Barrister Atangana Bikouna.

During the meeting, the counsels cited what they say is illegal arrest of lawyers and other ill treatment perpetuated by the state.

They also lamented that, increasingly , lawyers are being arbitrarily thrown into jail. They further opined that, it is time the excesses are stopped.

One of the participants at the Yaounde meeting, Barrister Um Patrice said: “The State of Cameroon must put an end to the impoverishment of lawyers. They despise all of us.

Magistrates, police officers. I remind you that all these people have immunity from prosecution. Imagine that a lawyer is arrested in front of his client…”.
Going by another lawyer, Dominique Fousse, there is need for collective action to push for a review and reform of the law on the exercise of the profession.

He said the law adopted in 1990 is no longer fully consistent with current issues.

Some used the meeting to call for a reduction of the influence of the Minister of Justice on the running of the BAR. “we worked with other colleagues on the grooming of our organic law. I regret that today, despite the promises of the Minister of Justice and keeper of the Seals, this text has never reached the parliament,” another lawyer stated.

The Douala meeting was also used by some lawyers to present their candidates for the June 18, 2022 elections.

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