Cameroonian Lawyers Launch Nationwide Strike Over Police Violence

The strike, ordered by the Bar Council, is set to last until Friday. "It is an obligation," said Richard Tamfu, a lawyer at the Cameroon Bar Association, stressing the need for solidarity among legal professionals.

Police Brutality Sparks Outrage

• The strike follows the circulation of disturbing videos on March 1, showing police officers mistreating a lawyer and other individuals.
• Bar Council President Mbah Eric Mbah condemned the acts in a statement issued on March 4, calling them a violation of human rights and the dignity of legal practitioners.
• The Cameroonian legal community has expressed deep shock and concern over the escalating violence against its members.

A History of Lawyer Protests in Cameroon

• This is not the first time Cameroonian lawyers have staged a strike.
• In 2020, the Bar Association boycotted courts following the arrest of lawyers Richard Tamfu and Armel Tchuemegne Kenmegne.
• The two lawyers were sentenced to six months in prison with a suspended sentence for "rebellion in a group and destruction of public property".
• The Bar Council previously decried what it called a "systematic persecution of lawyers" by state authorities.

Demands for Justice and Rule of Law

• Cameroonian lawyers are demanding respect for their profession and an end to police harassment.
• "Things will never be the same again," said Richard Tamfu, adding that the strike aims to restore dignity and legal protections for all lawyers in the country.
• The legal community insists that the rule of law must be upheld, and legal professionals must be able to work without fear of intimidation or violence.

As tensions rise, legal practitioners and rights groups continue to call on the government to ensure accountability for police misconduct and uphold judicial independence in Cameroon.