Cameroon: Minister Paul Atanga Nji says LGBTQ ambassador’s planned conference ‘impossible’

By Amina Hilda

Paul Atanga Nji, Cameroon’s Minister of Territorial Administration has reiterated the impossibility to hold an LGBTQ conference in Cameroon.

The announcement of the visit of Jean-Marc Berthon, French ambassador for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer(LGBTQ) rights recently sparked controversy amongst Cameroonians.

According to a document by the French Embassy, the LGBTQ ambassador was expected to arrive at Yaoundé- Nsimalen airport by Air France flight AF775 on June 27, 2023, at 5:55 p.m.

The aim of the visit according to the document was to, “examine the LGBTQ legal provisions defined in order to frame their rights and the device established to fight against the prevalence of HIV in the country.”

In a recent release, Paul Atanga Nji said: “Regarding the theme of the conference debate, it is in total contradiction with the relevant legislation, in particular the relevant provisions of article 347-1 of law N°2016/007 of July 12, 2016, on the penal code.”

He however stated that the French ambassador is permitted to visit the country at any time, but that it is, ” not possible to grant him any authorization within the framework of the purpose that motivated his trip.”

To many Cameroonians, adhering to the French ambassador’s request would have been a huge blow to Cameroon’s culture and that of Africa as a whole.