Cameroon: National Communication Council wages war against broadcast of gay contents

The Cameroon’s media regulatory organ, the National Communication Council, NCC, has called for an immediate stop to the broadcast of contents carrying homosexual scenes on television channels in the country.

According to a Communiqué signed on June 12, 2023, by NCC boss Joseph Chebongkeng Kalabubsu, “the broadcast of gay contents is something familiar with foreign media but cannot be tolerated in a country like Cameroon because it goes against its ethics and deontology.”

The media regulatory body castigated the fact that “such contents are now being integrated in children’s programs, opening their minds to seeing homosexuality as normal.”

“Homosexuality is prohibited and forbidden by the Cameroon penal code, and the broadcast of homosexual sexual contents goes against its ethics and deontology,” the communique stated.

Television channels broadcast such content according to NCC, risk seeing their channels suspended.

It should be noted that article 347-1 of the Cameroon penal code, states that “anyone caught having sex with someone of the same sex will face a penalty of between 6months to 5 years imprisonment with a fine range of between 20,000frs to 200000frsCFA.”

Cameroon is a highly conservative society where people who identify with LGBT community are prosecuted, condemned, and publicly shamed.

Several crossdressers and gays have had to leave the country for their safety.

By Washira Helen