Skip to main content
Cameroon

RFI Cameroon correspondent jailed for 10 years

Ahmed Abba, an RFI correspondent in Cameroon, has been sentenced to 10 years in jail. Abba, who works for RFI's Nigeria-based Hausa service, initially faced a possible death sentence.

RFI journalist Ahmed Abba
RFI journalist Ahmed Abba RFI/AFP
Advertising

The Cameroonian military tribunal announced on Monday that its sentence was based on Abbas's failure to denounce acts of terrorism.

As well as the prison terms, the tribunal imposed a stiff fine worth 85,000 euros.

Amnesty International called the sentence a travesty of justice.

Abba has been punished for simply doing his job, RFI said, adding that the judgement puts into question the right of a reporter to inform those who wish to be informed.

"This is a punishment for the whole press, an attempt to criminalise the profession of journalism in Cameroon," said Cameroonian journalists' union leader Denis Nkwebo.

Tanzanian cartoonist Dr Meddy says #FreeAhmed

Prosecutors said that Abba was collaborating with the Nigerian Islamist armed group Boko Haram and failed to pass on information about planned attacks.

But they failed to produce five witnesses they said would prove his guilt and the report of an expert on cybercrime was rejected by the tribunal.

Prior to being transferred to a jail, Abba said he was tortured for three months by intelligence agents.

No proof was put forward against Abba and he has denied all charges.

At the time of his arrest in July 2015, he had been reporting in the north of the country, an area which is often targeted by Boko Haram.

Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning

Keep up to date with international news by downloading the RFI app

Share :
Page not found

The content you requested does not exist or is not available anymore.