The land dispute between the Cameroonian government and British American Tobacco (BAT) over a 4-hectare property in Bastos, an upscale neighborhood in Yaoundé, has reignited. The Minister of State Property and Land Affairs, Henri Eyébé Ayissi, has reversed his earlier decision in this contentious case, adding a new twist to the ongoing saga.

On June 20, 2024, the minister issued a decree allowing the government to exercise its preemption rights over the disputed land, originally owned by BAT. The land was then returned to local families. However, on July 31, 2024, Eyébé Ayissi rescinded this decree, citing “very high instructions” from President Paul Biya, conveyed through a letter from Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh, Secretary-General of the Presidency. BAT had previously denounced the government’s seizure of its property, prompting this intervention.

In a surprising move, Eyébé Ayissi reinstated the June 20 decree on November 25, 2024. This decision followed a formal appeal filed by lawyer Olivier Chi Nouako on behalf of the families who had received the land. Eyébé Ayissi acknowledged that he might have overinterpreted the president’s instructions from the June 26 letter, noting that it did not explicitly require the repeal of the June 20 decree.

With this latest development, the dispute is likely heading back to court. BAT had already taken legal action to reclaim the property and signaled its willingness to escalate the case to international courts if necessary. After a July 11 hearing at the Administrative Court in Yaoundé, BAT’s lawyers indicated that they were prepared to pursue all available legal remedies.

Beyond the legal wrangling, the case highlights allegations of high-level maneuvering by influential figures seeking control of the land. Sources claim that the local families who initially regained ownership of the property under the June 20 decree quickly sold it to prominent individuals, including some close to the presidency.

Source: Business in Cameroon

At least 20 people were killed on Thursday after a boat capsized in Cameroon’s Far North region, according to witnesses and security sources.

The boat capsized as it was transporting passengers from Darak island in the Logone-et-Chari division of region, witnesses told Xinhua Thursday evening.

Local media reported that more casualties are expected, as rescuers search for more victims.

Security sources said that a formal investigation has been opened to determine the cause of the accident.

Boat accidents are common in the region often caused by overloading, faulty operations and severe weather.

Source: Xinhuanet

Secretary of State for Defence in charge of the National Gendarmerie, Galax Etoga, has ordered a judicial investigation into an incident involving barrister Richard Tamfu. This directive was outlined in a memo issued by Colonel Pierre Aimé Bikele, commander of the Littoral Gendarmerie Legion.

A short video recorded on November 27 in Douala shows a gendarme kicking Richard Tamfu as onlookers shout in protest. The video has sparked widespread outrage.

Galax Etoga has tasked the commander of the Littoral Gendarmerie Legion with hearing all parties and witnesses who could shed light on the incident. The investigation must be completed within 72 hours.

Since the incident, Richard Tamfu has refrained from publicly sharing his account, stating only that he was responding to a summons. He claims the gendarmes acted as if they were enforcing an arrest warrant. According to his associates, the lawyer was performing his professional duties when he was forcibly taken. Tamfu was reportedly hospitalized following the assault.

This episode comes as a blow to the SED, which recently relaunched a campaign against torture within the ranks of the gendarmerie.

Reaction from the Bar Association

The Cameroon Bar Association responded swiftly. In a statement released on November 28, its president, Mbah Eric Mbah, said:

“While awaiting a meeting of the Bar Council in the coming hours, the Bar President has instructed the Human Rights Commission and the Bar representatives in the Littoral Region to gather all relevant facts about this excessive incident, so the Bar Council can decide on the appropriate actions.”

The video has drawn condemnation from opposition politicians and public figures. The Social Democratic Front (SDF) described the incident as “inhumane and unacceptable.” SDF President Joshua Osih called for swift and exemplary sanctions, stating on Facebook: “The senior leadership of the National Gendarmerie must act immediately against the perpetrators of this medieval savagery.”

Maurice Kamto, leader of the Movement for the Renaissance of Cameroon (MRC), criticized the systemic issues behind such incidents.

“This act speaks volumes about the training of law enforcement and judicial police officers in our country, as well as the inability or unwillingness of magistrates to effectively oversee their work,” Kamto remarked on social media.

Source: Sbbc

A video of elements of the Groupement de Gendarmerie in Besseke torturing an Anglophone lawyer Barrister Tamfu Richard has sparked a massive outrage on social media even as the Biya Francophone regime in Yaoundé sought to downplay the incident.

The video clip of the high-octane drama surfaced late today Wednesday that showed the Francophone gendarmerie officers assaulting and beating up the man of law in Besseke.

On the clip, the gendarmes in uniform had Barrister Tamfu beaten, tortured, kicked by the officers on his private part and pepper sprayed. Passersby’s were seen pleading to the gendarmerie men to spare the barrister.

The Francophone gendarmes also raided his office and also tortured his secretary illegally detaining three persons and demanding money from them.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai with files from Rita Akana

The United Nations Committee Against Torture (CAT) has issued a series of recommendations to the Cameroonian authorities, focusing on improving detention conditions in the country’s prisons. Among its observations, the CAT highlights the poor material conditions of detention in many facilities, including unsanitary and unhygienic environments, lack of ventilation, inadequate food and water supplies—both in quality and quantity—and the absence of recreational or educational activities to support reintegration. Additionally, access to quality healthcare remains limited.

To address these issues, the CAT has made several proposals. The UN body calls on Cameroon to reduce overcrowding in its prisons, urging authorities to ensure that pre-trial detention is imposed only as an exceptional measure and for limited periods. This concern is particularly pressing given that the country’s prisons house approximately 30,000 inmates, despite an official capacity of just 9,000.

In response, Cameroon’s Ministry of Justice has been implementing a prison infrastructure development project. As part of this initiative, two prisons were opened in Douala several years ago to alleviate congestion at New Bell Prison, while another facility was constructed in Limbe to ease the burden on Buea Prison in the Southwest Region. The CAT has expressed its support for this project but insists that more needs to be done.

The committee has also stressed the importance of improving conditions for detainees with disabilities. Additionally, it recommends that Cameroonian authorities facilitate better access to healthcare services and increase the number of prison staff. “Allocate the necessary resources to ensure proper medical and sanitary care for detainees, including mental health services,” the CAT document states.

The CAT’s recommendations underline the urgency of addressing the systemic challenges plaguing Cameroon’s penal system, with a particular emphasis on humane treatment and the fundamental rights of prisoners.

Source: Sbbc