Lawyers in Cameroon are on a three-day strike protesting police brutality targeting their profession. The Cameroon Bar Association condemned acts of violence against lawyers, citing specific incidents of assault and abduction. Courtrooms across the capital went deserted, highlighting the ongoing struggles of legal professionals in the country amid fears of further repression under President Paul Biya’s regime.
On Wednesday, lawyers in Cameroon initiated a three-day strike, leaving numerous courtrooms empty, as a reaction to escalating police brutality targeting their profession. The Cameroon Bar Association decried the situation, describing it as “physical violence, barbarity, and other humiliating treatment” directed toward lawyers by law enforcement officials.
Mbah Eric Mba, the president of the Bar Association, cited two recent incidents that underscore the crisis. One incident involved a viral video depicting officers assaulting a lawyer, while another attorney was reportedly abducted by police last Friday after protesting against rights violations experienced by his clients.
An AFP journalist observed that several courtrooms in the capital city of Yaoundé were deserted due to the strike. The Bar Association has pledged to pursue legal action in response to these abuses.
This protest marks not the first instance of Cameroonian lawyers standing against police mistreatment. In November, they rallied following the hospitalization of a colleague who endured police detention in Douala.
Currently, President Paul Biya, at 92 years of age and in power for 42 years, faces accusations of stifling dissent. Activists and human rights organizations have expressed concerns over heightened repression in the lead-up to the presidential elections scheduled for October 2025.
The strike by Cameroonian lawyers represents a significant dissent against police brutality, underlining the continuing struggle of the legal profession against oppression. The Cameroon Bar Association’s condemnation of police violence reflects a critical need for protection of legal practitioners. This situation highlights ongoing tensions in Cameroon, particularly given the broader context of political repression under President Biya’s long tenure as he approaches the imminent election cycle.
Original Source: newscentral.africa
