Cameroon: Banning Media from Talking about President’s Health Undemocratic

Paul Biya

Cameroon‘s banning of the press from reporting on President Paul Biya’s health is a violation of human rights and disregard for the people of the central African country.

Development Diaries reports that the government of Cameroon recently banned the media from discussing the health of President Biya.

We understand that the president was last seen publicly in September during the China-Africa summit in Beijing. He has, since then, missed major functions including the United Nations General Assembly in New York and the summit of French-speaking countries in Paris.

His disappearance from the eye of the public has given rise to numerous speculations concerning his health, with many fearing the worst.

Last week, Interior Minister Paul Atanga imposed a ban on the media stating in a letter dated 09 October that ‘debate in the media’ on the president’s health was ‘strictly prohibited’, further ordering that ‘monitoring cells’ are charged with tracking online content be set up.

However, banning the press from covering issues related to the president would violate the people’s right to information.

With critical issues such as the crippling impact of armed conflict and the economic crisis yet to be addressed, it is paramount that public confidence in the government is restored with information about the whereabouts and state of the president.

Development Diaries calls on the Cameroonian government to retract its order banning the press from exercising their duties as a measure towards mending the already damaged public trust in government

We also urge the authorities to desist from taking measures that will infringe or hinder citizens from exercising their rights.

Photo source: Paul Biya

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