No More Safe Haven: Cameroon Bar Launches Onslaught Against Child Sex Predators

In a decisive move to combat what he describes as a rampant and destructive surge in moral criminality, the President of the Cameroon Bar Association, Barrister Mbah Éric Mbah, has announced the creation of a specialized legal unit dedicated to defending victims of child rape and sexual abuse. 
The initiative was formalised in an official communique on May 29, 2026. And further elaborated by the Bar President in an interview with Cameroon Tribune Online on June 3, 2026. It comes in the wake of several horrifying cases of child abuse across the country that have sparked national outrage.

For Free
The dedicated legal unit will assist, advise, and defend victims of child rape and sexual abuse in court across Cameroon. According to the Bar President, the move is intended to bypass corrupt roadblocks, offer free immediate legal protection, investigate reported abuses, and ensure sexual predators are brought to justice. The Bar President explicitly confirmed that victims and their families will pay nothing. If there are any financial implications for legal representation or follow-ups, the Bar Association will cover the costs entirely.

The Number To Call
A dedicated telephone/WhatsApp hotline has been set up at (+237) 654 815 610. The public is encouraged to use this number to report cases anonymously if necessary. Alternatively, reports can be made directly to regional or divisional Bar representatives (Batonnier’s representatives). Once a report is made, the commission will investigate and take immediate legal steps to bring culprits to justice.

Special Unit Members 
The unit is strategically structured with high-ranking human rights, anti-corruption, and legal executives from the Bar to ensure institutional weight and combat corruption. The Chairperson is Barrister Memong Philippe Olivier, representative of the Bar President for the Center, South, and East Regions. The rapporteur is Barrister Zangue Serges Martin, Secretary of the Bar Association. 
While the members are Barrister Mbuyah Gladys Fri, Chairperson of the Social Affairs Committee; Barrister Tchakounte Charlotte, Chairperson of the Anti-Corruption Committee; Barrister Nkongme Dorcas Mirette; Vice-Chairperson of the Human Rights Committee, and Barrister Njie Jude Mokom, Special Delegate of the Bar President for the North West Region. 

Crisis In Classrooms
Among the catalysts for this emergency intervention is a string of high-profile cases, including the alleged abuse of nearly 15 young children by a teacher in Yaoundé. And the tragic death of 11-year-old Divine Mbarga Atangana in Kribi, who was raped and murdered by a classmate’s father while the man’s own child stood watch outside. "The horrible observation is that the devil is now in schools, hiding behind the noble gowns of teachers," the Bar Association statement noted, warning that schools are on the verge of being completely infested by sex offenders.

Long-term Trauma
Speaking on the psychological toll of these crimes, Barrister Mbah Éric Mbah emphasized the long-term devastation inflicted on young survivors. "When a young girl is raped, you destroy her sense of personality, and she loses self-esteem," he told Cameroon Tribune Online. Noting that many victims later turn to drugs or fall into waywardness just to cope with the trauma.

Corrupt Officials, "Amicable Settlements"
Barrister Mbah did not hold back in his criticism of local law enforcement and compromised family members. He strictly condemned police officers and gendarmes who treat child rape cases as a "commercial bed" to make money. He cited a recent case in Momo Division of North West Region where a 72-year-old man who raped a 14-year-old girl. The man was initially released after paying the victim's aunt a meager 30,000 FCFA. Following direct intervention by the Bar President, the suspect has been re-arrested and is now behind bars.
The Bar Association issued a stern warning to parents, stating that the physical and moral integrity of children is non-negotiable. The Bar warned that any parents who venture into scandalous "amicable financial settlements" with predators will be legally pursued as accomplices to the crime.

Call For National Synergy
The Cameroon Bar Association is therefore calling for an immediate overhaul of teacher recruitment procedures, urging the Ministries of Basic and Secondary Education to implement stringent background and morality checks, particularly within private schools.
Additionally, the Bar President urged the media, press organs, and social media influencers to show professional restraint by refusing to publish images of underage victims, shielding them from carrying a lifetime of public trauma. The special unit is already active, and the Bar Association vows to follow every case closely until full legal c...