The Divisional Officer of Mbanga, Temboh Christine Nkefor, has banned a public demonstration planned by the Front for Change in Cameroon (FCC) on April 13, 2025, citing "serious threats to public order".
The FCC has disputed the decision, pointing out that the ruling party, the Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (CPDM), held a similar public demonstration on March 24, 2025, in the same administrative area without incident.
Led by Hon. Jean Michel Nintcheu, the FCC considers the ban arbitrary and discriminatory, claiming it infringes on freedom of expression and peaceful public demonstration, rights guaranteed by the Cameroonian Constitution.
According to him, the ban occurs amidst heightened political tensions in Cameroon, where opposition parties frequently denounce restrictions on their fundamental freedoms.
*Law No. 90/055*, enacted on December 19, 1990, governs public meetings and demonstrations in Cameroon, requiring prior declaration for public gatherings and allowing authorities to ban events if they pose a significant threat to public order.
The Cameroonian Constitution guarantees freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, but authorities often interpret these rights restrictively, citing public order concerns.
Mbanga, a town in western Cameroon with a population of approximately 29,732, has seen instances of opposition parties being restricted from holding public gatherings. For instance, a public meeting by the Cameroon Party for National Reconciliation (PCRN) was prohibited in Kribi, South Region, in November 2023.
This pattern of restrictions highlights the ongoing tensions between the government and opposition parties in Cameroon.
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