Catholic Archbishop Appeals for Human Dignity in Cameroon’s Prisons, End to Forced Disappearances

Beyond prison conditions, Archbishop Kleda faulted what he described as corruption throughout the justice system.

He said corruption begins at the point of arrest and continues throughout detention and judicial proceedings, creating unequal access to justice in which wealth often determines how cases are handled.

The Catholic Archbishop also faulted repeated violations of criminal procedure, including delayed hearings, missing case files, denial of defense rights, and the excessive use of pre-trial detention.

He noted that approximately 70 percent of detainees in Cameroon are awaiting trial, a situation he says undermines the presumption of innocence and amounts to a second punishment before conviction.

Emphasizing that Christian justice seeks restoration rather than vengeance, Archbishop Kleda said imprisonment should promote healing, conversion, and social reintegration while preserving the dignity of every person.

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“The dignity of prisoners remains intact. They are God’s children,” he said.

Among the reforms proposed in the pastoral letter are an end to forced disappearances and secret detentions, mandatory registration of all arrests, strict enforcement of legal detention limits, prison reforms, and expanded alternatives to incarceration for minor offenses, recruitment of additional magistrates, the establishment of an independent commission to investigate the justice system, and stronger efforts to combat corruption.

Archbishop Kleda also called for improved healthcare, nutrition, hygiene, and vocational training in prisons, greater family support for detainees, increased engagement by civil society and the media, and strengthened Catholic prison ministry.

He urged Cameroonians to reject indifference and work together to build a justice system rooted in compassion, accountability, and respect for human dignity.

“A nation cannot prosper if built on hidden suffering and systemic injustice,” he said, calling on the country to reform its laws and institutions so that “no one disappears, is tortured, or dehumanized within our justice system.”