The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Commission), meeting at its 63rd Ordinary Session held from 23 October to 13 November 2018 in Banjul, Republic of The Gambia;
Recalling its mandate to promote and protect human and peoples’ rights under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (African Charter);
Considering the provisions of the African Charter, in particular Article 13(1) on the right of every citizen to participate freely in the government of his country;
Considering its Resolution ACHPR/Res.272 (LV) 14 on elections in Africa;
Recalling its Resolution ACHPR/Res. 395 (LXII) 18 on the human rights situation in the Republic of Cameroon;
Concerned by the human rights violations, in particular the excessive restrictions on freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly, the prohibition of peaceful demonstration during the electoral process which was marked by several cases of arrest and unlawful detention;
Deeply concerned by the continuous deterioration of the human rights situation in the country in general and in particular in the English-speaking North-West and South-West Regions of Cameroon;
Deeply concerned by the increasing insecurity, recurrent enforced disappearances, summary and extrajudicial executions, abductions and intimidation;
Concerned by the police repression, marked by prohibition from demonstration by opposition political parties, arbitrary arrests and the violation of other human rights following several cases of disputing of the results after the recent presidential election of 7 October 2018;
Emphasising the importance of an inclusive political participation of all sectors of the Cameroonian society towards restoring stability throughout the national territory;
Concerned by the continuous loss of lives;
The Commission:
- Welcomes the release of the 79 students and teachers who were abducted on 5 November 2018 from their school in the North-West Region of Cameroon, and calls upon the Government to ensure their protection and that of all schools throughout the national territory;
- Strongly condemns the various human rights violations committed in the country, and in particular during the electoral process;
- Calls upon the African Union to take measures towards putting an end to the ongoing serious human rights violations in the country;
- Calls upon the Cameroonian authorities to:
- Increase efforts towards finding a speedy solution to the Anglophone crisis and restoring stability, peace and security;
- take the necessary measures to ensure the safety of the population;
- ensure democratic space for civil society and political opposition actors, journalists, lawyers, and pro-democracy movement activists;
- promote the collective interest of citizens by preserving the ideals of peace, justice, equity and good governance as provided for in the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance ratified by Cameroon;
- authorise the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights to undertake a fact-finding mission.
Done in Banjul, Republic of The Gambia, on 13 November 2018
