(Business in Cameroon) - During the November 2019 budget session, the Cameroonian parliament will review a draft amendment to the Penal Code. The purpose of this amendment is to introduce provisions punishing racial, religious and tribal vilifications.

According to the draft text submitted to parliamentarians for consideration and adoption, racial and religious vilifications will now be punishable by prison terms ranging from 6 days to 6 months, with fines from XAF5,000 to XAF500,000. This fine is increased to XAF20 million if the offence is committed via “the press, radio, television, social networks or any other means likely to reach the public.” These penalties are doubled if the offence is committed to incite hatred and contempt between citizens, the draft indicates.

As far as tribal vilification is concerned, the offence is punishable by imprisonment of one to two years, with a fine between XAF300,000 and 3 million. If mitigating circumstances are admitted, the prison sentence may be less than 3 months and the fine XAF200,000. These penalties are doubled when the offence is committed by a public official, a political party official, a media official, an NGO or a religious institution.

This draft text appears as a response to the hateful and tribal speeches in Cameroon, mainly on social networks, since the October 2018 presidential election.

BRM