BY CYNTHIA BIH
Of recent the phenomenon of the practice of same sex is gaining momentum in Cameroon. Even though some gay rights defenders in Cameroon have disclosed that practicing same sex relation is their fundamental human rights. The government of Cameroon and some religions bodies like the Roman Catholic Church in Cameroon through their Bishops have condemned it with the strongest energy reasons why the government has launched a fresh man hunt against those practicing it. Those listed to be arrested to face persecution and prosecution include Okpu Etengeneg Agbor Effala Doris, Akanja Samuel amongst others. They have been declared wanted and the military keep making impromptu patrols around their neighbourhood to arrest them.
According to the gay rights defender , Barrister Alice Nkom for the past years homosexuals and lesbians have seen themselves thrown behind bars and jailed, which according to her is wrong because homosexuality is a human right. “Those who find pleasure in the practice, their human rights must be respected” she hinted.
Homosexual on the run
In November 2011, a Cameroonian Court convicted two young men Jonas Kamie and Frank Ndome, who had been arrested same sex activity outside a night club in Yaounde based solely on their appearance and behaviour and were consequently sentenced to five years imprisonment.
Criminalising homosexuality, she says is bad law thus repugnant to natural justice Equity and good conscience. The Gay Rights Defender disclosed that in July 2013, prominent Gay Rights activists and Journalist Eric Lembembe’s neck and feet appeared to have been broken and his face, hands and feet burned with iron, Human Rights Watch said.
In 2017 Barrister Alice Nkom who has been fighting for the rights of homosexuals and lesbians said “I accused the state that if there had not been criminalization of Homosexuality, Lembembe would not have gone to prison and his life wouldn’t be over. His life was finished as soon as he went to prison and he died under heartbreaking circumstances in prison’ she remarked.
In 2021, a Cameroonian court in the economic capital, Douala slammed a five year jail term and a fine of FCFA 200.000 and a cost of FCFA 29.300 CFCA to two men, Njueukomloic Midrel aka Shakiro and Mouthe Roland aka Patricia guilty of attempted homosexuality practice.
A prominent Human Rights Lawyer and a gay rights activist, Barrister Atoh Walter Tchemi, a Kumba based Legal Practitioner and Head of The Time law Firm, was recently attacked, molested and tortured by unidentified individuals for defending a homosexual Fonya Cornelius who unfortunately was jailed in the Limbe Court of First Instance.
Following the Douala incident, the government immediately gave firm instructions to security operatives to crack down all homosexuals and lesbians.
One of the homosexuals listed for arrest and persecution is Okpu Etengeneg Agbor Okpu .Reports say, Etengeneg had developed interest for same sex reasons why he was too close to his male partner. Heaven break lose when Etengeneg was caught red handed by a security guard of a popular hotel making love with his same sex partner.
The security guard we gathered immediately alerted the police but upon the arrival of the police Etengeneg and partner had escaped. This brought shame to the Etengeneg’s family and they immediately made plans for him to be arrested and face prosecution taking into consideration that same sex is a taboo. Sometimes in February 21, 2016 family members tried to arrest Etengeneg for him to face trial for his deed but he managed to escape for his safety.
As we went to press, Okpu Etengeneg Agbor whose whereabouts remains cloudy according to family sources, is now considered an outcast by his family and the society in general, a warrant of arrest has been issued against him and a huge ransom announced for anybody who can disclose his whereabouts.. The military keeps making constant checks in their neighborhood all in a bit to have information which can lead to his arrest.
According to Human Rights Watch, at least 38 people in Cameroon have been charged under the country’s anti-gay laws in the past three years-more than many any other African Nation.
Homosexuality is illegal and criminalized in Cameroon culprits can be punished with jail term ranging from 06 (six) months to 05 (five) years and a fine of from FCFA 20000 to FCFA 200000 according to section 347-1 of Law No. 2016/007 of 12 July 2016 of the Penal Code and Law No.2010/012 of 21 December 2010 on cyber crime and cyber criminality in its section 83-1 which criminalises online same sex proposition to a person of their sex through electronic communication with an imprisonment of one to two years and a fined of FCFA 500.000 to FCFA 1.000.000.