Jailed ‘coffin revolution’ leader, Ngalim Felix demands medical assistance

One of the leaders of the “Coffin Revolution” has called on the government of Cameroon to respect the rights of prisoners and provide health care to him and other prisoners in Cameroon.

Ngalim Felix, speaking from his cell at the Kondengui Central Prison in Yaounde, says he needs medical assistance.
“I have been suffering from an ulcer for over two years now with no intensive medical attention. My leg was operated in February 2019 at the Yaounde General Hospital. But two days after, a mixed military contingent buddled me out of the hospital to the prison”.

To Ngalim Felix, since then, his health situation has deteriorated.

“I need medical attention to avoid the situation worsening,” he says.

The call of Ngalim Felix for medical assistance comes days after the population in Foumbot in the West region of Cameroon set ablaze the Foumbot Court of First Instance after learning that an inmate died in detention due to failure to receive medical attention.

Besides poor health, Ngalim Felix complains of the over-crowded nature of the prison during this time when government is calling for physical distancing to avoid the spread of COVID-19 pandemic.

Access to food, water and basic necessities in prison remain a problem.

Arrested on the 29th of November 2016 in Bamenda in the North West region of Cameroon, Ngalim Felix and other members of the “Coffin Revolution” were transferred to the Yaounde judicial police station on the 1st of December 2016. They are facing trial on charges of rebellion, inviting violence and terrorism. Since 2016, the trial has suffered several adjournments with the next hearing to take place on May 21, 2021.

Away from that, Ngalim Felix alongside other inmates were sentenced to 18 months in prison by the Yaounde Court of appeal in 2019 following a prison mutiny at the Yaounde Central Prison Kondengui.


Mbatho Ntan.