The headlines are dominated lately by the outbursts of the governors of the Centre and Littoral Regions who have signed two decrees banning undeclared public meetings and public demonstrations and the intervention of the Minister of Territorial Administration, Mr. Atanga Nji who in a fax message addressed to the administrative authorities to "put in place [a] monitoring system for all activists and supporters [of the said] political party", reminding them that "it is understood that unauthorized demonstrations remain prohibited" and that they must proceed to the arrest, detention and administrative custody of offenders who exceed the said prohibitions.
While in the first case the prohibition by the governors of unauthorised meetings and demonstrations is highly questionable, in the second case the intention of the Minister of Territorial Administration to restrict the freedom of public meetings and demonstrations is evident when he speaks of unauthorised demonstrations even though they are placed under the regime of declarations.
Some people who defend the spirit and the letter of the Message-Fax of the Minister of Territorial Administration invoke the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which states in Article 21 that "The right of peaceful assembly is guaranteed. The exercise of this right shall be subject only to such restrictions as are prescribed by law and are necessary in a democratic society in the interests of national security or public safety, public order, or for the protection of public health or morals or of the freedoms of others". In an attempt to swallow the view that even conventions provide a framework for public meetings and demonstrations that are not free in absolute terms.
PRESS RELEASE
From 23 August to 13 September 2020 the local section of the Social Democratic Front (SDF), a Cameroonian political party led by Chairman John Fru Ndi, organised for the third time a football holiday championship called "Ngoulemakong SDF Holiday Championship". The town of Ngoulemakong is a commune in Cameroon of about 20,000 inhabitants located in the department of Mvila, in the South Region. SDFCAMEROON.ORG had the privilege of asking 3 questions to President Félix Gildas Mbida Belinga.
The deteriorating socio-political and institutional situation currently prevailing in Cameroon is, and remains, a major concern for the Social Democratic Front (SDF). Finding a comprehensive and acceptable solution to the series of crises shaking the country remains the party's top priority.
