Cameroonian civil society urges MINAT to lift ban on REDHAC, ROC
By Synthia Lateu
The Cameroonian civil society has urged the Ministry of Territorial Administration to annul its decision banning the Network of Human Rights Defenders in Cameroon, REDHAC and Reach Out Cameroon, ROC.
In a release signed by 21 civil society leaders including Me Alice Nkom, Cyrille Rolande Bechon, Hilaire Kamga, Jean Claude Fogno, and Nkongho Felix Agbor-Balla, the group asserted that the MINAT decision is “clearly based, for the most part, on false allegations and unfounded assertions.” They emphasized that these associations have consistently complied with the legal standards in Cameroon.
The civil society actors further said MINAT’s decision undermines democratic values in the country, declaring, “The suspension and banning orders issued against these organizations are a flagrant violation of the right to freedom of association in Cameroon.”
The Cameroonian civil society condemned the approach which they described as “restrictive” to civic space, especially as Cameroon approaches a new “high-risk electoral cycle in 2025.”
The document also noted that MINAT’s orders followed REDHAC’s active participation in defending human rights during Cameroon’s review by both the United Nations Human Rights Committee and the Committee Against Torture. They called on the government to adhere to national and international guidelines on freedom of association.
In a communique on December 6, MINAT suspended the activities of REHDAC and ROC alongside three other NGOs throughout the national territory for three months. They were accused of illegal funding, failure to justify received funds, non-compliance with regulations governing NGO activities, and lack of proper authorization.
