Alarming rate of Police Brutality in Cameroon

The incident underscores an alarming trend of state-perpetrated violence targeting lawyers, activists, and ordinary citizens across the country.

A Routine Defense Turns Violent
The altercation unfolded in the Bonaberi neighborhood, where Tamfu was representing a client targeted by three gendarmes attempting an arrest without a warrant. Standing his ground, Tamfu contested the legality of the action, a move that allegedly provoked the officers.

In Tamfu’s account to Human Rights Watch, he described being forcibly placed into the back of a gendarmerie truck. "They began to beat me relentlessly," he said. A video that has since circulated widely on social media shows Tamfu lying prone in the truck while two gendarmes stomped on him. Cries from bystanders urging them to stop were ignored.

After hours in custody, Tamfu was released but required hospitalization due to severe injuries. On November 29, he filed a formal complaint against the head of the Littoral Region Gendarmerie, accusing the official of complicity in acts of torture. While the Secretary of State for Defense announced an investigation, skepticism lingers, fueled by a history of unresolved cases.

Recurring Patterns of Violence
The assault on Tamfu is not an isolated incident. In December 2023, another lawyer, Atoh Walter M. Tchemi, was assaulted by police in Kumba. In May 2021, Me Amungwa Tanyi Nicodemus faced accusations of inciting terrorism, leading to his arrest. Perhaps most strikingly, in November 2020, Douala lawyers protesting state policies were met with tear gas.

Maximilienne Ngo Mbe, Executive Director of the Central Africa Human Rights Defenders Network (Redhac), points to systemic issues. "There’s a consistent lack of accountability. Investigations are opened, but perpetrators are rarely, if ever, held to account," she said.

Human Rights Advocates Sound the Alarm
Organizations like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have long documented abuses by Cameroonian security forces. Their reports emphasize that the impunity enjoyed by officers undermines trust in the justice system.

In a recent report, the United Nations Committee Against Torture urged Cameroon to suspend officials implicated in torture and ensure independent investigations. Yet, such recommendations are often ignored.

Ngo Mbe highlights the broader implications: "The failure to address these abuses tarnishes Cameroon’s reputation internationally and erodes public confidence in the rule of law."

A Call for Justice and Reform
Human rights defenders are now pushing for concrete action:

• Transparent investigations: Ensure impartial inquiries into police violence.
• Accountability measures: Suspend officers under investigation and prosecute those found guilty.
• Policy reforms: Strengthen protections for citizens and lawyers against police overreach.

For Tamfu and others who have suffered similar fates, justice remains elusive. Yet, his case has become a rallying cry for activists demanding systemic change.

A Crossroads for Cameroon
As the global community watches, Cameroon faces a critical moment. Will it act to address police violence and restore faith in its institutions, or will it allow impunity to persist?

For now, Tamfu’s resilience serves as a stark reminder of the cost of defending justice in a country where such ideals are increasingly under siege.