From Newsroom to Courtroom: Amungwa Tanyi Nicodemus on Press Freedom in Cameroon

Welcome to the Press Freedom Advocates Series, where we hear from lawyers defending journalists across the world. We recently interviewed Cameroonian investigative journalist turned human rights Lawyer, Amungwa Tanyi Nicodemus for our 2024 Annual Report.

Media Defence previously supported Nicodemus through our Emergency Defence programme, when he was targeted for his journalism. Now, as a human rights lawyer, he is a valued member of Media Defence’s global network of lawyers and has worked with us to support journalists facing politically motivated charges in Cameroon for a number of years. 

“I vowed to go to law school to fight abuses like the ones I endured,” says Amungwa Tanyi Nicodemus, who stands at the forefront of defending journalists in Cameroon, where both members of the press and those who protect them face mounting threats.

Nicodemus’ journey into human rights law is rooted in personal experience. In 2014, he was arrested and detained for nine months after publishing an investigative report on alleged corruption within the Cameroon Cooperative Credit Union League (CAMCCUL). “I was jailed after a charade trial and a default judgment that imposed six months of imprisonment and onerous damages against me,” he recalls. Though acquitted on appeal for lack of evidence, the experience exposed him to systemic injustice: “While in prison, I discovered a lot of inmates detained without due process. I used my legal knowledge to petition the courts and succeeded in securing the release of around 60 of them.”

This experience was the catalyst for his decision to study law. He graduated from the Nigerian Law School in 2017 and has since dedicated his practice to defending journalists and human rights defenders in Cameroon. “My motivation comes from my determination to fight all forms of injustice, from rights abuses to corruption, tribalism and nepotism.”

Nicodemus has since defended high-risk cases across Cameroon’s Anglophone regions, including that of journalist Kingsley Njoka. Njoka was abducted from his home in Douala, held incommunicado, and later charged with secession and supporting armed groups. “Kingsley’s trial has been one of the most sham proceedings I’ve witnessed,” says Nicodemus. “He spent nearly five years in pre-trial detention and was sentenced without the prosecution presenting any witnesses.”

The case is part of a wider climate of repression against the press in Cameroon, particularly in the Anglophone regions. Nicodemus points to the case of journalist Samuel Wazizi, whose fate remains emblematic of the dangers faced by independent media in the region. Wazizi was arrested in 2019, held incommunicado, and died in custody under still-unexplained circumstances. When Wazizi’s family and the media began demanding answers, the government shifted its tactics — and journalists like Kingsley became the next targets.” Media Defence has brought a case against Cameroon to the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights to seek accountability for what happened to Samuel Wazizi.

Nicodemus himself has not been spared, highlighting the increasing risks faced not just by journalists but also those defending them. In 2021, while representing a client in a property dispute, he was arrested and accused of espionage. “They claimed I was recording videos to send to separatist fighters, simply because of my public profile,” he says. Detained for 10 days without charge, he was released only after the President of the Cameroon Bar Association intervened.

Despite the threats, Nicodemus remains persistent. “I believe my dual profession gives me an edge,” he says. “I’m committed to promoting justice, protecting fundamental freedoms, and advancing democratic values. Where there is human rights abuse, there is bad governance.” In recognition of his courage and impact, Nicodemus has previously received the Human Rights Lawyer of the Year and Most Daring Human Rights Lawyer Award.

Press Freedom in Cameroon 

Despite boasting one of Africa’s most diverse media environments, Cameroon remains one of the most perilous countries on the continent for journalists. Ranked 131st out of 180 in Reporters Without Borders’ 2024 World Press Freedom Index, the country offers little room for independent or critical journalism. Media outlets that challenge government narratives or investigate official misconduct frequently face intimidation, harassment, and threats.

Journalists reporting on the Anglophone crisis – an armed conflict between government forces and separatist groups in Cameroon’s western regions since 2017 – face particular danger. Coverage perceived as critical of the government’s role in the conflict can result in accusations of supporting secession or aiding armed groups, putting reporters at serious legal and physical risk.

The security situation has forced many journalists to flee. According to ADISI-Cameroun, at least 45 journalists from the northwest and southwest have gone into exile, while 97 more have been internally displaced. The conflict has also led to the shutdown of several media outlets, further restricting the flow of information.

In 2024 alone, five journalists were imprisoned in Cameroon, making it the fourth-worst offender on the African continent for jailing media professionals, as reported by the Committee to Protect Journalists.

Discover more stories of the journalists we support and the dedicated lawyers who defend them in our 2024 Annual Report.