Cameroon: Internet freedoms and democracy activist Patrice Nganang is Free! - Internet Sans Frontières

Internet Sans Frontières welcomes the release of Cameroonian  writer and activist Patrice Nganang. This professor and author of “Temps de Chien”, which received the grand prix littéraire d’Afrique noire and the prix Marguerite Yourcenar, denounced the ongoing repression in the English-speaking regions of Cameroon, where access to the Internet has been severely disrupted for 3 months.

Patrice Nganang was arrested at the Douala International Airport on December 6, 2017 as he prepared to board a flight to Harare, Zimbabwe. The reason for his arrest was a Facebook post for which he was accused of insulting the President of Cameroon. After a surprising change in the judicial calendar, the Attorney General of Yaoundé asked the tribunal to drop all charges against the writer.
The hearing was originally scheduled on January 14, 2018.

” The release of Patrice Nganang is an important victory for digital rights and freedom activists. Digital activists like Patrice Nganang are important actors and peace-keepers in Central Africa, their place is not in prison cells” said Julie Owono, the Executive Director of Internet Without Borders.

As the election year approaches in 2018, Internet Without Borders encourages Cameroonian authorities to more than ever protect the rights and fundamental freedoms of all citizens, and in particular calls on the Government to stricly apply the international law, by restoring full Internet connectivity in the English-speaking regions.