Ongoing judicial harassment against women human rights defenders Alice Nkom and Maximilienne Ngo Mbe

On 4 August 2025, the Douala-Bonanjo Court of First Instance in Cameroon held a hearing in the case of the State of Cameroon, represented by the Prefect of Wouri, against women human rights defenders Alice Nkom and Maximilienne Ngo Mbe, Co-Chair and Executive Director of the Central Africa Human Rights Defenders Network (REDHAC). The two women human rights defenders are facing charges of “breaking seals,” “rebellion,” and “refusal to comply with a summons,” following the forced closure of REDHAC’s offices in December 2024 by the Ministry of Territorial Administration. The organisation itself has been cited as civilly liable in the case.

Alice Nkom is a Cameroonian lawyer and woman human rights defender with over twenty years of experience working on human rights, with a particular focus on LGBTIQ+ rights and women’s rights. She has been a member of the Cameroonian Bar from 1971 – 2022. Alice Nkom is the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of REDHAC, and has been working for the organisation since 2010. REDHAC is a coalition of human rights defenders active in eight countries in Central Africa. The organisation represents over 400 members, including human rights defenders, lawyers, and journalists, with the aim to mitigate the risks that they face, and raise awareness of the human rights situation in the region.

Maximilienne Ngo Mbe is a woman human rights defender and the Executive Director of REDHAC. She has been the subject of threats and smear campaigns in the past, specifically in relation to REDHAC’s work in the Anglophone regions of Cameroon and their work with the LGBTIQ+ community.

Although the women human rights defenders Alice Nkom and Maximilienne Ngo Mbe, on behalf of themselves and REDHAC, were physically present and formally represented in court by a large group of lawyers, the Court nevertheless questioned the legal representation of REDHAC due to the absence of supporting documents. The judge ruled that the organisation’s 2019 statutes, submitted without the accompanying general assembly minutes and the alleged inability of the Chair of the Board of Directors to validly represent REDHAC, were insufficient to formally recognise its counsel. REDHAC has been unable to access its offices or documentation since the sealing of the premises in December 2024.

The organisation and women human rights defenders’ legal representation initially requested a postponement of the trial and a judicial site visit to obtain the missing documents. The Public Prosecutor, who claimed to be having difficulty summoning the Prefect of Wouri, supported a postponement of the hearing. Following discussions, the organisation’s legal representation withdrew the site visit request and the trial was firmly adjourned to 6 October 2025, when the Prefect of Wouri will appear before the Court and proceedings will continue.

Front Line Defenders is deeply concerned about the continued judicial harassment against women human rights defenders Alice Nkom and Maximilienne Ngo Mbe, and the deliberate attempts to compromise REDHAC’s operations. The organisation believes the charges intended to obstruct the peaceful human rights work of REDHAC and silence dissenting voices in Cameroon. It reiterates its call on the Cameroonian authorities to drop all charges against Alice Nkom and Maximilienne Ngo Mbe, immediately lift the suspension and sealing of REDHAC, and ensure that all human rights defenders in Cameroon can carry out their work in a safe and enabling environment, in line with the country’s obligations under regional and international human rights law.