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In one video On July 21, a photo circulated on social media showing Cameroonian social media activist Steve Akam, also known as Ramon Cota, standing in front of an outdoor fence, handcuffed and surrounded by Cameroonian police. This was the last time he was seen.
Human Rights Watch contacted sources in Cameroon and geolocated and analyzed the video, which was filmed between July 19 and July 21 in Border Post A meeting between Gabon and Cameroon in the Cameroonian town of Kaiossi.
Cota has lived in Gabon for the past ten years. Tik Tok Video In the article, he criticized the Cameroonian authorities.
On August 7, Cota’s lawyers said they had sent requests for information about their client’s situation and whereabouts to various Cameroonian authorities, but had received no response. The lawyers believe that the Cameroonian authorities illegally deported Cota from Gabon to Cameroon. Enforced disappearanceThis means that the Cameroonian authorities have detained him but have refused to acknowledge their detention or reveal any information about his whereabouts, depriving him of legal protection.
this China-Africa Human Rights Defenders NetworkCameroon’s famous human rights organization Maurice Kamtoand the chairman of Cameroon’s main opposition party, the Renewal Movement, called on the authorities to immediately disclose Cota’s whereabouts.
The Cameroonian government has Suppressing the opposition In the run-up to the 2025 elections, it has increasingly restricted freedom of expression and association.
In March this year, the Minister of Territorial Administration prohibit Two opposition alliancesIn June, gendarmes in Ngaoundéré, Adamawa State, Arrested again Aboubacar Siddiki, a well-known artist known as Babadjo, was prosecuted for “insulting” the governor. decree Threatened to ban anyone who insulted state institutions from the department. Also in July, intelligence officers in Douala, a coastal region Arrested Social media activist Junior Ngombe has been praised for his videos on TikTok advocating for democratic change. bail July 31st.
On August 7 statement The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said after a visit to Cameroon that the pre-election process would be a “critical opportunity to ensure the free expression of political views.”
“People who have been forcibly disappeared are vulnerable to a variety of abuses, including threats to their lives. The Cameroonian authorities should immediately confirm Cota’s detention and whereabouts, respect his rights and release him.”
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