Cameroon’s government delivered a largely positive assessment of its human rights record on Wednesday, November 13, at a United Nations review in Geneva, Switzerland, downplaying ongoing issues in a presentation that left many skeptical. The country’s human rights situation was examined under the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.
Led by Ambassador H.E. Eheth Salomon, Cameroon’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, the delegation portrayed a favorable view of human rights in the country. However, this assessment diverged sharply from the daily experiences reported by many Cameroonians.
The delegation struggled to respond when questioned about the number of people awaiting execution on death row. Atabong Angelina, Deputy Director of International Cooperation at the Ministry of Justice, stated that Cameroon’s death penalty policy serves as a deterrent, though the country hasn’t executed anyone in over 35 years. She emphasized that “the death penalty in Cameroon is used to scare those who might consider committing certain acts.”
Another focus of her remarks was the human rights situation in Cameroon’s conflict-ridden Anglophone regions. Atabong stated that the Cameroon National Human Rights Commission has conducted numerous visits to detention facilities in these areas. Still, she did not specify actions taken to secure the release of individuals believed to be unlawfully detained.
When the UN Committee on Torture questioned Atabong about the Human Rights Commission’s independence, she cited significant budget increases and claimed that the commission has access to all detention facilities, including police stations. However, she provided few details on how these funds ensure the commission’s ability to operate autonomously.
Cameroon’s Human Rights Challenges Under Scrutiny
In Geneva, the Cameroonian delegation faced tough questions on the government’s plans to reduce overcrowding in prisons, curb pre-trial detention, and address longstanding allegations of human rights abuses.
For years, Cameroon has been embroiled in conflict, particularly in its two Anglophone regions, where activists have documented extensive human rights violations. These include the mass killings of women and children in areas like Ngarbuh, as well as summary executions in Meluf, Muyuka, Kumba, and Buea. Both government forces and separatist fighters are implicated in these abuses.
International human rights groups such as Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and Crisis Group have reported numerous cases of unlawful detentions and summary executions. Beyond the killings, civilians are regularly detained in cities like Yaoundé, Buea, and Bamenda, often without being formally charged. Reports also document physical assaults on peaceful protestors, sexual violence, extortion, and arbitrary arrests in the conflict zones.
While the Anglophone regions remain the focal point of human rights concerns, abuses are not confined there. In one prominent case, popular musician Longue Longue was reportedly tortured, with the government yet to hold the perpetrators accountable.
Cameroon’s record remains contentious, with international organizations and Cameroonian citizens demanding greater transparency and accountability from the government.