Journalists in the central African nations of Cameroon are under attack ahead of the next presidential elections in 2025.
According to the VOA News, the attacks on journalists have surged recently.
“Rights groups say six journalists have been assaulted by gunmen in the past weeks, while several reporters and a radio station have been ordered to stop broadcasting.
“The Network of Cameroon Media Owners, or REPAC, says four of its members have been brutally attacked by men armed with rifles and machetes in Cameroon’s capital, Yaounde, in the last three weeks.”
These are just among the few of the attacks reported by VOA News.
Human Rights Watch said freedom of expression has become increasingly difficult in Cameroon and that citizens’ right to speak freely should be respected ahead of elections.
According to Reporters Without Borders, Cameroon ranks 130 out of 180 countries in 2024 for safety among other factors.
Although Cameroon has one of the richest media landscapes in Africa, it is one of the continent’s most dangerous countries for journalists, who operate in a hostile and precarious environment,”
The organisation said media outlets can’t “adopt a critical and independent editorial policy without being exposed to significant threats and harassment if its reporting endangers the interests of the government and its representatives.”
Given that the president controls all areas of the state, it censors most media outlets and results in them accepting the views of the authorities or those close to them.
Journalists have thus blamed the government for instigating attacks on them.
“REPAC says Biya’s supporters, especially government ministers, are trying to intimidate the media organizations that criticize the president’s long tenure in power,” VOA News reported.
The government has denied allegations saying that they are trying to silence journalists and citizens.
“In the days ahead, we will deploy council members to organise workshops and seminars to be able to sensitise and educate our peers on what is at stake and the expectations from them”.
Reporters Without Borders said journalists who do speak against the government are indeed subjected to physical and verbal attacks, arbitrary arrests, detention, SLAPP proceedings, kidnappings and the risk of murder.
Content Writer