Human Rights Watch urges MINAT to lift ban on REDHAC
By Synthia Lateu
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called on Cameroonian authorities to “immediately reverse” the suspension of The Central Africa Human Rights Defenders Network, REDHAC.
The international rights group stated that the “arbitrary suspension lacks a lawful basis and violates the right to freedom of association” under both Cameroonian law and international human rights law. This statement was released on December 17, 2024.
HRW further highlighted that the Minister of Territorial Administration, Paul Atanga Nji, issued a ban on REDHAC’s activities for three months without prior notification, violating Cameroon’s 1990 law on freedom of association.
“The decision appears linked to the Cameroonian authorities’ pervasive crackdown on civil society, the media, and the political opposition,” HRW added.
Ilaria Allegrozzi, Senior Sahel Researcher at Human Rights Watch, stated that while authorities may seek to ensure associations operate transparently , a legitimate aim they should follow proper legal procedures when addressing any group against which there is credible evidence of illicit funding.
“Instead of harassing rights groups, the government should fulfill its obligations to provide civil society organizations with an environment in which to operate freely and flourish,” she emphasized.
HRW noted that Atanga Nji’s decision against REDHAC is the latest in a series of government actions aimed at suppressing freedom of association and free speech ahead of the 2025 presidential elections.
