IV 

115TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 718 

Condemning the actions taken by the Government of the Republic of 

Cameroon against Patrice Nganang and others, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JANUARY 29, 2018 

Mr. ZELDIN submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on Foreign Affairs 

RESOLUTION 

Condemning the actions taken by the Government of the 

Republic of Cameroon against Patrice Nganang and others, and for other purposes. 

Whereas, on January 17, 2017, the Government of the Republic of Cameroon shut down mobile internet access to 

English-speaking regions of Cameroon after clashes involving separatists; 

Whereas, on October 1, 2017, the Department of State expressed serious concern over the Government of Cameroon’s use of force to restrict free expression and violence against protestors in the country’s English-speaking 

regions; 

Whereas the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) publicly urged the 

Government of Cameroon to halt violence after 17 people 


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had reportedly been killed and dozens wounded and arrested in demonstrations in the country’s English-speaking regions since October 1, 2017; 

Whereas the Government of Cameroon has retained control 

of electronic media by refusing to grant licenses to private radio and television stations and has intensified political attacks against the independent press; 

Whereas commenting unfavorably on political or human 

rights issues frequently results in official repercussions 

for writers and journalists in Cameroon; 

Whereas publishing material critical of the Government of 

Cameroon on political or human rights issues frequently 

results in official repercussions for writers and journalists; 

Whereas Patrice Nganang criticized the Government of Cameroon for its marginalization of English-speaking persons 

and publicly criticized President Biya on online media 

outlets; 

Whereas Patrice Nganang is highly educated, with a Ph.D. 

in comparative literature and is currently a professor of 

cultural studies and comparative literature at the State 

University of New York at Stony Brook; 

Whereas, on December 6, 2017, Patrice Nganang was arrested at Douala International Airport and charged with 

violating the antiterror law for insulting President Biya; 

Whereas Patrice Nganang was taken into custody and detained in the Kondengui Central Prison in Yaounde ́, 

Cameroon, for approximately 20 days; 

Whereas the Government of Cameroon delayed a public hearing for Patrice Nganang and neglected to issue a warrant 

of criminal charges; 


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Whereas hundreds of English-speaking detainees have been 

beaten or mistreated in custody; 

Whereas these actions of the Government of Cameroon constitute gross and reprehensible violations of international 

law and basic human rights; 

Whereas the police, gendarmerie, and Government authorities 

reportedly continued to arrest and detain persons arbitrarily, often holding them for prolonged periods without 

charge or trial and at times incommunicado; and 

Whereas there are numerous documented accounts of citizens 

of Cameroon being imprisoned and beaten for publicly reporting on unrest in Cameroon’s English-speaking regions or criticizing President Biya: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) strongly condemns the actions taken by the 

3 Government of the Republic of Cameroon against 

4 Patrice Nganang and the English-speaking minority 

5 of Cameroon; 

6 (2) affirms that the United States continues to 

7 hold the Government of Cameroon responsible for 

8 upholding all the rights of its citizens, regardless of 

9 political views or beliefs; and 

10 (3) urges the Government of Cameroon to ex11 tend to all of Cameroon’s citizens, including political 

12 dissidents, the rights guaranteed by the Universal 

13 Declaration of Human Rights of the United Nations 

14 and other international covenants on human rights, 


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1 including the freedoms of expression with equal pro2 tection under law. 

Æ 


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