Betrayed by gay lover, then imprisoned, Bob has finally been set free

After that success, donations are now needed to keep this website running

By Steeves Winner

Betrayed by his gay lover, abandoned by his family, not even allowed to plead his case in court, Bob was held in prison without a trial for more than six months until Project Not Alone set him free on Aug. 25.

Project Not Alone is a donor-supported initiative of the Erasing 76 Crimes news site and its financial sponsor, the St. Paul’s Foundation for International Reconciliation, a U.S.-based charity.

Early this year, Bob and Abo (both pseudonyms for their safety) were in a gay romantic relationship that ended in catastrophe. The romance ended shortly after Abo’s parents learned how Abo was spending his time.

Confronted with sexually charged text messages  between the two men, Abo claimed that he had been an unwilling victim — not a willing lover — and that Bob had sexually harassed him. The police, the courts and Abo’s politically connected parents believed him.

Bob was arrested on charges of attempted homosexuality. On Feb. 16, he was imprisoned without trial.

“I didn’t even understand what I was being accused of,” Bob said.

His arrest raised serious concerns among human rights defenders, revealing once again the flaws in the Cameroonian judicial system and the institutional violence suffered by LGBTQI+ people.

Looking back, Bob says he doesn’t believe his behavior was inappropriate. He doesn’t admit to having harassed his partner; they were in a consensual relationship. But Abo, unwilling to admit his sexual orientation in front of his family, made it seem like harassment.

During his months in prison, he had moral support from some of his friends, who brought him food to supplement the meager rations provided by Bertoua Prison.

Bertoua Prison has drawn condemnation from human rights groups like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch for its severe overcrowding and mistreatment of LGBTQI prisoners.

The 296,000 CFA francs (about $493) that was needed to post bail for Bob came from generous readers and other contributors to Project Not Alone.

Bob is one of 12 LGBTQ prisoners in Cameroon and Nigeria whom Project Not Alone 2025 aims to set free this year by paying their fines and, when needed, finding lawyers to represent them. None of them was charged with anything other than homosexuality. So far, six of the 12 prisoners have been released.

After his arrest, Bob had no legal assistance. His trial, scheduled for May 11, never took place. He spent months in limbo, without clear information about his case.

“I was treated like a criminal, just for who I am,” he said, his voice trembling.

Only in recent months, with support from Project Not Alone, did he get help from an attorney.

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Before his arrest, Bob was a cook.  After his release, Bob he moved in with a friend in the town of Betaré Oya, three hours’ drive north of Bertoua. His friend, a mason by trade, helped Bob land a job as a laborer on a house construction site.

Solidarity and stability

This gesture of solidarity has allowed him to regain a semblance of stability.

“When you leave prison with nothing, without family, without work, you feel like a ghost. This construction site is my breath, my refuge,” Bob said.

Bob makes no secret of his anger at what he calls “arbitrary detention.” “I never had the chance to defend myself. No lawyer, no one to listen. Just accusing looks and insults. It’s as if my life doesn’t matter.” He hopes his story will serve to raise awareness and push the authorities to ensure fair treatment for all.

Cameroonian human rights organizations are calling for reform of judicial procedures and the decriminalization of same-sex relationships. They emphasize that cases like Bob’s are not isolated, and that fear, shame, and exclusion continue to undermine the lives of many LGBTQI+ people in Cameroon.

“I just want to live, work, and be respected. Is that too much to ask?” concludes Bob, his hands covered in cement, but his gaze fixed on a future he hopes will be more just.

Funds still needed