Cameroon: Torture video of singer Longuè Longuè resurfaces, national outrage grows

A video showing the brutal treatment inflicted on Longuè Longuè, the iconic Makossa singer, is causing a stir in Cameroon. Broadcast on social media on Wednesday, October 23, 2024, it shows the artist, who had supported opponent Maurice Kamto in 2018, being subjected to violence perpetrated by gendarmes. The video, although filmed in 2019, provoked a rapid reaction from the Minister of Defense, announcing the opening of an investigation to shed light on these facts, which are resurfacing in an already tense context for human rights in Cameroon.

Shocking images and obvious violence

The video, which lasts about five minutes, shows Longuè Longuè half-naked, sitting on the ground, with his feet pinned under a chair. Four men, one of whom is in military uniform, torture him by pressing their boots on his legs and hitting the soles of his feet with a machete. The singer, visibly in great pain, regularly implores a man he calls "my commander", although the latter is not visible in the video. These images, which recall the repressive methods denounced in the country, quickly shocked Cameroonian civil society.

Unanimous public reaction and calls for justice

The release of this video sparked an immediate wave of indignation in Cameroon. Artists, journalists, human rights defenders and ordinary citizens spoke out to condemn this act of torture, demanding that those responsible be brought to justice. This mobilization prompted the authorities, in particular the Minister of Defense, to react. The latter issued a statement promising "the opening of an investigation" in order to "shed full light" on this affair.

Initial reports suggest that this torture took place in 2019, at a time when Longuè Longuè had publicly displayed his support for Maurice Kamto, an opposition candidate who had contested President Paul Biya's victory in the 2018 elections. In the context of the repression of political opponents during this period, this video highlights the alleged abuses of the Cameroonian security apparatus, particularly against visible opposition figures.

Longuè Longuè, emblematic figure and voice of resistance

Longuè Longuè is more than just a singer in Cameroon. An iconic figure of Makossa, he has often used his music to comment on and criticize social and political inequalities in his country. His support for Maurice Kamto, a courageous choice in 2018, exposed him to reprisals from a regime that tolerates little dissent. Although often controversial, his political commitment has made him a respected figure in some popular circles, and the images of his torture are a reminder of the heavy price paid by those who dare to express opinions contrary to those of the government in power.

Human rights issue under pressure in Cameroon

The release of the video comes at a time when Cameroon is already under international pressure over its human rights violations. The emergence of the footage calls into question the practices of law enforcement and raises concerns about the lack of accountability for torture. The Minister of Defense has said that all means will be used to identify those responsible and take action against them, but some members of the public doubt the effectiveness of the investigation and fear that it will be a temporary response to calm popular outrage.

An urgent need for justice and transparency

While the government promises an investigation, Cameroonians are waiting for concrete action. The population is calling for exemplary justice to discourage such abuses and restore some semblance of confidence in security institutions. The case of Longuè Longuè has brought to light the practices of torture and repression carried out with impunity. Human rights defenders insist on the need for a thorough reform of law enforcement methods in Cameroon, where abuses against civilians remain frequent and largely unpunished.