‘I am not afraid’, says LGBTI rights attorney accused of financing terrorism in Cameroon
Attorney Alice Nkom threatens counterattack against those who slander her
Veteran LGBTI rights attorney Alice Nkom has come under attack for allegedly “financing terrorism” — a charge leveled by a Cameroonian anti-corruption association and the Minister of Territorial Administration, who have not produced evidence to back up their accusations.
Nkom, who has been summoned to appear before police investigators to answer the charges, threatened court action against her attackers and said she is “not even a little afraid” of the accusations leveled by the Observatoire du Développement Societal (Observatory of Social Development or ODS).
However, she has recently stated that she would leave the country if longtime President Paul Biya does not leave office in 2025.
“I cannot continue to work in an environment where my fundamental rights are constantly violated,” she said.
ODS, based in Yaoundé, Cameroon, has been called “an obscure association” by its detractors, but Nkom’s opponents enjoy political power. They include Paul Atanga Nji, Cameroon’s Minister of Territorial Administration, who last month suspended the operations of the LGBTI-friendly Network of Human Rights Defenders in Central Africa (REDHAC), which Nkom leads. His Dec. 6 order suspending REDHAC accused the organization of money laundering and financing of terrorism.
The Cameroonian publication Camer.be published this report on Nkom’s response to the accusations (translated here into English):
CAMEROON: Alice Nkom responds to her summons: “I am not afraid, I will counterattack”
Me Alice Nkom, a famous lawyer and human rights defender in Cameroon, responded firmly to her summons to the gendarmerie following a complaint filed by an obscure association accusing her of financing terrorism. During an interview, she dismissed these accusations, saying that she is “not even a little afraid” and promising to counterattack in court. This case, which mixes political and judicial issues, raises questions about freedom of expression and the methods used to intimidate opponents.
A controversial summons
Me Alice Nkom was summoned to the gendarmerie after a complaint was filed against her in the military court by an association whose identity and motivations remain unclear. This complaint accuses her of financing terrorism, a serious accusation that, according to her, is unfounded and aims to discredit her.
Asked by a journalist about her reaction to this summons, Me Nkom responded with her usual frankness: “Fear? Not even a little bit afraid. If they wanted to scare me, they were wrong. You don’t scare me by making monkey faces in front of me… You can make me laugh, that’s true. But fear, no.”
A legal counterattack announced
Me Alice Nkom does not intend to be intimidated. She recalled that, according to the law, accusing someone of serious crimes without evidence exposes the accuser to prosecution for slanderous denunciation. “When you bring against someone accusations as serious as financing terrorism without being able to produce evidence, you are giving the accused person a golden stick to beat you up and make you suffer the punishments you wanted to inflict on them,” she said.
She then announced her intention to file complaints against the instigators of this accusation, in particular against Atanga Nji, the Minister of Territorial Administration. “I hope that when the time comes, Atanga Nji will not flee justice. We will see if he is brave enough to come and face me in court,” she added.
A tense political context
This case comes in a tense political context in Cameroon, where voices critical of the regime are often silenced. Attorney Alice Nkom, known for her commitment to the rights of LGBTQ+ people and the oppressed, is regularly targeted by the authorities.
During the interview, she did not mince her words about President Paul Biya, whom she accuses of lying repeatedly. “Paul Biya lies. When someone lies to you repeatedly and you continue to listen to him, it is because you like suffering,” she said, expressing her disenchantment with Cameroonian politics.
Public reaction
Nkom’s statements sparked strong reactions on social media, where many Cameroonians expressed their support for the lawyer. The hashtags #AliceNkom and #JusticePourAlice quickly trended, gathering thousands of messages of solidarity.
For many, this case is an example of the methods used by the regime to intimidate opponents and human rights defenders. “Me Nkom is a heroine. She will not let herself be pushed around, and we are behind her,” commented one Internet user.
Nkom, faced with accusations that she describes as slanderous, has chosen to counterattack with determination. Her courage and refusal to be intimidated send a strong message to those who are trying to silence her.
This case highlights the challenges faced by human rights defenders in Cameroon, as well as the political tensions that are shaking the country. Let us hope that justice will be able to shed light on this case and that Attorney Nkom will be able to continue her fight for rights and justice.
