Last week, Aboubacar Siddiki Babadji, also known as Babadjo, was released from prison in Cameroon after serving a three-month sentence for insulting a local governor. However, he was immediately rearrested on charges of disturbing public order, demonstration, and hate speech. The charges were based on claims by the Cameroonian intelligence service that Babadjo's supporters were planning to demonstrate to celebrate his release. Babadjo, a member of the National Union for Democracy and Progress, had initially been arrested on March 8 for criticizing the region's governor on a WhatsApp group. This is not his first encounter with authorities, as he was previously arrested in 2020 for a song criticizing local officials. Babadjo is currently being held at the gendarmerie headquarters in N'Gaoundéré, and his lawyer has filed a habeas corpus petition before the high court [c189cecc].
Cameroonian authorities have a history of cracking down on opposition and dissent, and the repression appears to be escalating ahead of the 2025 elections. The president of another opposition party, Aboubakary Siddiki, has stated that political meetings and coalitions are being banned. The situation highlights the need for authorities to release Babadjo, drop the charges against him, and ensure he has access to adequate healthcare while in detention [c189cecc].
In a related development, media freedoms in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) have come under attack. Journalist Jessy Kabasele has been suspended by the Congolese government's Communication and Broadcasting Board (CSAC) for his interview with singer Koffi Olomide. The CSAC accused Kabasele of failing to reframe Olomide's speech, which criticized the army's response to the M23 rebels' assault. The CSAC has been stifling reporting on the conflict and issued requests for media outlets to avoid broadcasting debates on Congolese army operations and information relating to the rebellion in eastern DR Congo without referring to official government sources. Human Rights Watch has called on the authorities to protect journalists' rights to operate safely and freely, emphasizing the importance of media freedoms in DR Congo [e24cf86d].