Cameroonian Military Court Jails 3 For Joking About Boko Haram

Amnesty International has reacted to the 10 years imprisonment slammed on three young men, Fomusoh Ivo Feh, and his friends Afuh Nivelle Nfor and Azah Levis Gob – who were convicted of ‘non-denunciation of terrorist acts’.


They were convicted by a Military Court in Yaoundé, Cameroon.

Samira Daoud, Amnesty International Deputy Regional Director for West and Central Africa said Fomusoh Ivo and his two friends should never have been arrested in the first place, as they were simply exercising their right to freedom of expression.

“Instead of being in school like their friends, these three young men will now spend years of their lives in prison for a simple joke.

“This ruling is clear evidence that Cameroonian military courts should not have jurisdiction to try civilians. The Cameroonian authorities must quash their conviction and sentence and immediately and unconditionally release all three of them,” Daoud stated.

Ivo, 27, whom Amnesty International considers to be a prisoner of conscience, was arrested on 13th December 2014 after forwarding his friends a sarcastic SMS referring to Boko Haram.

He was held in police custody in Douala before being transferred to Yaoundé Prison in January 2015.