Rising wave of hate speech in Cameroon: Government issues ‘last’ warning.

The government of Cameroon has promised to use repressive measures to stop promoters and facilitators of hate speech in the country.

In a press release issued Monday 22nd May 2023, the Minister of territorial administration, Paul Atanga Nji said “These grievous acts seriously threaten our living together and social cohesion which are so dear to the President of the Republic, H.E Paul Biya. The government of Cameroon therefore wants to put an immediate end to this deviant behaviour.”

Atanga Nji quoted section 77 of law No 2010/012 of 21st December 2010 on cyber security and cyber crime in Cameroon, and said “Whoever, by any means makes hate speech against people or incites them to violence due to their tribal or ethnic origin shall be punished with imprisonment of one to two years and with a fine of 300. 000 to 3 000 000 f CFA.”

Atanga Nji went on to accuse those he described as “… unscrupulous politicians…” for fueling hate speech, xenophobia, unprecedented tribalism and stigmatization of some ethnic groups with the aim of harvesting some political gains.

Besides politicians, the Minister of territorial administration equally placed the responsibility of promoting hate speech in Cameroon at the door steps of some Media outlets.

For this, he warned that: “…any media used as conveyors of xenophobic messengers shall be punished in accordance with the laws of the Republic. The same shall apply to those who through social media, propagate hate speech, violence and tribalism.”

Analysts think, hate speech, tribalism and xenophobic tendencies have been on the rise in Cameroon with both the government and the private sector sharing responsibilities.

There have been several media reports pointing how some sitting members of government and law makers propagate hate speech in different circles. Few days to the celebration of the 51st edition of National Day in Cameroon on the 20th May, The Guardian Post, a leading English Language Newspaper in Cameroon published several articles quoting Senator Mbela Moki Charles from the South West Region describing people from the North West of Cameroon as “People we don’t like.”

According to The Guardian Post Newspaper, the senator and former Mayor of Buea council made the statement during a meeting held by elite of the South West to chat a way for permanent peace in the region.

The release of the Minister of territorial administration threatening severe sanctions against those who produced and spread hate speech follows a joint press conference granted by the Minister of territorial administration, Paul Atanga Nji, the Minister of communication,Rene Emmanuel Sadi and the president of the National Commission for the Promotion of Bilingualism and Multiculturalism, Peter Mafany Mousongue on the 17th of May 2023. The press conference focused on sensitizing Cameroonians home and abroad on the dangers of hate speech to peace in Cameroon.

Critics think, if at all government will exercise repressive measures against those propagating hate speech in Cameroon, then government should start with top members of government and law makers that use hate speech and a political weapon.