On the prosecution of journalists in Cameroon, notably the cases of Amadou Vamoulké, Kingsley Fomunyuy Njoka, Mancho Bibixy, Thomas Awah Junior and Tsi Conrad

B100231/2025

Motion for a European Parliament resolution on the prosecution of journalists in Cameroon, notably the cases of Amadou Vamoulké, Kingsley Fomunyuy Njoka, Mancho Bibixy, Thomas Awah Junior and Tsi Conrad

(2025/2627(RSP))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to Rule 150 (5) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas Amadou Vamoulké, former director of the national broadcaster Cameroon Radio Television (CRTV), was condemned to 12 years in prison in 2022 for corruption, and 20 years for embezzlement of public funds in 2024; whereas Kingsley Fomunyuy Njoka, freelance reporter, was sentenced in 2024 to ten years in prison with a charge of “secession and complicity with armed groups”; whereas Mancho Bibixy, journalist, was sentenced in 2017 to 15 years in prison on charges of “terrorism” and “secession”; whereas Thomas Awah Junior, journalist, was sentenced in 2018 to 11 years in prison on charge of “terrorism”; whereas Tsi Conrad was sentenced in 2018 to 15 years in prison for “terrorism” and “secession”;

B. whereas in January 2023, Cameroonian journalist Martinez Zogo was abducted, tortured and murdered; whereas Zogo was known as an outspoken critic of corruption in Cameroon’s government; whereas 17 suspected individuals are on trial;

C. whereas since 2017 Cameroon faces an internal armed separatist rebellion in its Anglophone regions, causing internal displacement of hundreds of thousands of people;

D. whereas Cameroon faces an ongoing threat from the Islamist terrorist group Boko Haram in its Far North region; whereas on 25 March 2025 Boko Haram killed more than 10 Cameroonian soldiers;

F. whereas for decades the EU has been funding democracy and governance projects in Cameroon, continuing this policy under the Multi-Annual Indicative Programme 2021-2027;

1. Is concerned about the plight of the Cameroonian journalists; encourages the Cameroonian authorities to give the prisoners access to medical care;

2. Calls on the Cameroonian authorities to ensure that the murder case of Martinez Zogo is

handled transparently and independently and to ensure that those responsible for this

crime are brought to justice;

3. Notes that the violent conflict in the Anglophone regions of Cameroon has created a very

hostile environment for journalists;

4. Strongly condemns the terrorist actions by Boko Haram in Cameroon; strongly supports the Cameroon authorities in combating this Islamist terrorist organisation;

5. Highlights the fact that despite being at war, Cameroon is considered a “safe haven”

for refugees, fleeing violence in Nigeria and the Central African Republic; appreciates the efforts of Cameroon in the field of regional protection;

6 Is of the opinion that the limited effect of the EU’s democratisation assistance to Cameroon relates to the fact that it does not take into account the local socioeconomic and political context; emphasises that the EU’s democratisation assistance programmes are based on a Eurocentric, one-size-fits-all paradigm, taking the wrong view that elections are the great catalyst for institutional change;

7. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the European External Action Service, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, and the President, government and parliament of Cameroon.