UN Committee on Torture to Question Cameroon

The UN Committee against Torture today begins its latest session to evaluate the human rights practices of six nations, including Cameroon. Cameroon’s forthcoming review on 13-14 November is expected to draw considerable attention. This is because it comes at the heels of renewed demands for accountability following the release of a disturbing video showing the torture of Cameroonian singer Longue Longue in 2019.

The UN Committee against Torture, tasked with overseeing the enforcement of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, will evaluate Cameroon in conjunction with Kuwait, Namibia, Thailand, Jordan, and Mongolia during this session, which will take place from 28 October to 22 November 2024. Each of these countries will undergo an assessment regarding their adherence to the Convention, which forbids all forms of torture and requires regular evaluations by the Committee.

This review arrives at a crucial moment for Cameroon. Over the last week, there has been significant public outcry regarding the resurfacing of video footage depicting Longue Longue, a well-known Cameroonian musician, being tortured by security forces in 2019. The video, released last week, has reignited calls for justice, accountability, and reforms to Cameroon’s human rights policies, especially concerning state-sanctioned violence and torture.

The Longue Longue Case: A National Disgrace

Longue Longue, a beloved musician known for his Afrobeat and Makossa hits, was reportedly arrested in 2019 on dubious charges of defamation and political dissent. The video reveals the troubling abuse he suffered at the hands of law enforcement. It portrays him suffering physical abuse, humiliation, and being coerced into making forced confessions while in custody.

The public release of the video has sparked significant outrage, prompting human rights activists, artists, and members of the community to call for justice for Longue Longue and others who have endured similar experiences under the Cameroonian security forces. This case is widely viewed as a larger indication of the ongoing systemic impunity for human rights violations within the nation.

“It is regrettable that it has taken five years for this evidence to emerge, and still, no one has faced accountability,” said a representative from the Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa (CHRDA). “The torture of Longue Longue is not an isolated incident; it represents a culture of impunity that has afflicted Cameroon for years.”

The reemergence of this case aligns with increasing global pressure on Cameroon to confront its history of torture, particularly regarding the treatment of political prisoners and detainees in areas of conflict. Cameroon is currently facing a severe conflict in its Anglophone regions, marked by documented allegations of torture and extrajudicial killings involving both state and non-state actors.

UN Review Provides Essential Chance for Accountability

The forthcoming review by the UN Committee against Torture presents an important opportunity for Cameroon to showcase its dedication to human rights reforms. During the review, representatives from Cameroon will undergo questioning by a panel of independent international experts regarding the country’s efforts to prevent torture and ensure accountability for perpetrators.

Civil society organisations are expected to play a crucial role in this process. Many have submitted reports that detail the prevalence of torture in the country, particularly in relation to political repression and the ongoing conflict in the North-West and South-West regions. Numerous reports emphasise the absence of accountability for security forces engaged in torture, the inadequate conditions in detention facilities, and the harassment of activists, journalists, and political adversaries.

The UN Committee has scheduled the review of Cameroon for 13 November from 10:00 to 13:00 and on 14 November from 15:00 to 18:00 at Palais Wilson in Geneva. The country’s delegation will engage in public dialogues addressing these issues, with the session being broadcast live on UN Web TV.

A Plea for Justice

Many Cameroonians have long anticipated the global focus on the country’s human rights situation. Human rights organisations have persistently sounded the alarm regarding the use of torture as a tool for political repression in the country. The Longue Longue case highlighted the persistent problem that inadequate actions have been implemented to tackle these abuses.

With the UN review on the horizon, activists in Cameroon are optimistic that this moment will signify a pivotal change in the pursuit of justice and the cessation of impunity for individuals accountable for torture and human rights abuses.

“We must not allow the events surrounding Longue Longue to remain unaddressed,” said Barrister Michele Ndoki of the Cameroon Nation Builders Movement. “His case embodies the suffering and anguish of countless others who have been muted. It is essential for the world to recognise that Cameroon must not ignore the issue of torture any longer.”

As Cameroon gets ready to confront the UN Committee against Torture, it is evident that the nation’s leaders will experience significant pressure to tackle not only historical incidents but also to enact systemic reforms to avert future abuses. For victims such as Longue Longue and many others, this moment presents a ray of hope for accountability and justice.

Mimi Mefo Info