CASE AGAINST THREE CAMEROONIAN JOURNALISTS ADJOURNED TO FEB 19

The case between the Cameroon government and three journalists at the Yaoundé Military Tribunal has been adjourned to February 19 2016. Reports say today’s hearing lasted only for 27 minutes.

The interim Judge at the Tribunal, Justice Yvonne Leopoldine Akoa adjourned the matter after defense lawyers, Jean Robert Fojou and Jean Pierre Manyim requested more time to study the case and the accusation against their clients.

Baba Wame, Rodrigue Ndeutchoua Tongue, and Félix Cyriaque Ebolé Bola were dragged to court since 2014 over what is being considered as the “non-denunciation” charges. The accused have denied all the allegations.

The three journalists had been investigating allegations of collusion between elements of the security forces and a leader of an armed group from Central African Republic that had been accused of previously attacking a town in the east of Cameroon. They were charged with failing to share information that could harm national security.

Rights group Amnesty International and Reporters without Borders have called on government to drop all the charges demanding that Cameroon’s Criminal Code be reformed in conformity with international standards to protect freedom of expression and the confidentiality of sources.