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

On November 25, Cameroon joined the global community in observing the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, shedding light on the prevalence of gender-based violence in the country. According to the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and the Family (Minproff), 39% of women in Cameroon experience gender-based violence. The ministry noted that such abuse—whether physical, psychological, social, or cultural—frequently leads to tragic outcomes, including femicides.

In a bid to combat this statistic, Minproff launched a 16-day action campaign starting November 25. The initiative, described as a nationwide awareness drive, aligns with a global program led by UN Women, emphasizing the universal scale of gender-based violence. This year’s campaign theme, “Every 11 minutes, a woman is killed. No excuses. United to end violence against women,” underscores the urgency of collective action.

“Violence against women and girls is not inevitable—it can be prevented!” read a statement from UN Women, emphasizing key priorities for tackling the issue. These include enacting and enforcing robust legislation, improving data collection, increasing government accountability, fostering a culture of zero tolerance, and enhancing financial support for women’s rights organizations and relevant institutional bodies.

The 16-day campaign will run through December 10, calling on governments, civil society, and individuals to step up efforts to protect women and girls. With this initiative, Cameroon aims to amplify global advocacy and encourage local solutions to end violence against women, reaffirming that decisive, unified action can reverse the tide of this persistent social scourge.

Source: Business in Cameroon