Cameroon‘s media regulator threatened on Tuesday to suspend television channels, particularly foreign ones, that broadcast “scenes of homosexuality”, in a country where same-sex relations are criminalised.
In a text titled “Warning”, the National Communication Council (CNC), a government body, stated that it had noted “the proliferation of programmes promoting homosexual practices” which were “generally broadcast by foreign editors”.
These programmes “are increasingly found in cartoons intended for children and minors”, said the text, a copy of which was obtained by AFP.
“The CNC is asking the promoters of channels broadcasting programmes showing scenes of homosexuality in Cameroon… to immediately withdraw these programmes, which violate the law, morality and customs of our country”.
The penalty for not doing so would be the “outright suspension of the media concerned”.
The CNC did not name any media outlets.
A CNC source, who spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity, said: “right now, it’s not a question of this or that company because the volume of relevant programmes is too great to name them all”.
The nine members of the media watchdog are appointed directly by President Paul Biya, who has ruled the country with an iron fist for more than forty years.
Same-sex relations are criminalised in the country with prison sentences ranging from six months to five years in Cameroon.
In May, 2022, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said the LGBTQ community in Cameroon regularly experience “violence and abuse”.
“Cameroon’s law criminalising same-sex conduct has created a climate that allows both other Cameroonians and security forces to abuse and assault LGBTQ people without consequence,” according to HRW.
