The Douala-Bonanjo Court of First Instance has once again adjourned the trial involving prominent human rights lawyer Alice Nkom, activist Maximilienne Ngo Mbe, and the Central Africa Human Rights Defenders Network (Redhac).
The third hearing, held on August 5, 2025, was delayed due to the absence of a key witness, underscoring the tense atmosphere surrounding this closely watched case.
The court postponed proceedings because Sylyac Marie Mvogo, the Wouri senior divisional officer whose testimony is deemed crucial, failed to appear.
Defense counsel Charlotte Tchakounté indicated that this adjournment is expected to be final, with no further delays tolerated when the case resumes on October 6, 2025.
“The senior divisional officer will have to appear, as he is the only one who can justify the charges brought against the two defendants,” she stated.
Alice Nkom, chair of Redhac’s board of directors, welcomed the postponement, expressing confidence that her legal team’s arguments have revealed inconsistencies in the prosecution’s case.
The controversy began in December 2024 when Redhac was suspended by Cameroon’s Minister of Territorial Administration, Paul Atanga Nji, citing allegations of “illicit financing” alongside other unspecified charges. The organization’s offices were sealed for three months—a move Nkom condemned as “arbitrary.” In defiance, the lawyer broke the seals, prompting a cascade of administrative and judicial summonses against her.
The case has drawn significant attention from human rights advocates both locally and internationally, who view it as emblematic of broader tensions between civil society organizations and state authorities in Cameroon. As the next hearing approaches, all eyes remain fixed on how the judiciary will navigate these complex legal and political dynamics.
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