Re-opening of case against Maximilienne Ngo Mbe risks additional delays in judicial proceedings

On 6 April 2026, the Douala-Bonanjo Court of First Instance held the eighth hearing in the case against woman human rights defender Maximilienne Ngo Mbe. For the first time since the trial began on 7 April 2025, a representative of the State of Cameroon and the Prefect of the Wouri Department, the plaintiff in the case, appeared in Court. The presiding judge granted the prosecution’s request to re-open the case and allow the plaintiff to submit additional evidence to the Court. This was supposed to be the final hearing of the trial. Instead, reopening the case will cause further delays to the judicial proceedings and suggests that the authorities are deliberately prolonging the proceedings against Maximilienne Ngo Mbe. The next hearing is now scheduled for 4 May 2026.

Woman human rights defender Maximilienne Ngo Mbe is the Executive Director and Co-Chair of the Board of Directors of REDHAC, the Network of Human Rights Defenders in Central Africa. She has been the target of threats and smear campaigns, particularly due to REDHAC’s work in the Anglophone regions of Cameroon and her advocacy for the LGBTQI+ community. She is on trial for “breaking seals, collective resistance, and related charges,” primarily based on her legitimate and lawful resistance to the restrictions imposed on REDHAC by the authorities in Cameroon.

Maximilienne Ngo Mbe was absent from the hearing on 6 April 2026 due to medical reasons. In her absence, the Sub-Prefect of Douala 1, representing the Prefect of the Wouri Department and the State of Cameroon, requested that the case be reopened in order to present additional testimony. The prosecution argued that the Court should set aside its deliberation and reopen the case as the plaintiff may have additional relevant information. At the previous hearing on 2 March 2026, the prosecution and defence had rested their case, after which the Court adjourned for deliberation. The defence representing Maximilienne Ngo Mbe highlighted that the plaintiff had never appeared at the seven previous hearings, and that this request was part of a deliberate prolongation of the judicial proceedings. At the previous hearing, the defence team had already highlighted numerous irregularities they observed and documented throughout the trial since April 2025, and requested that the Court acquits Maximilienne Ngo Mbe.

At the hearing on 6 April 2026, the presiding judge granted the request of the Sub-Prefect of Douala 1 and reopened the case. The judge referred to ‘a desire to seek the truth’ by allowing a state representative to enter their testimony as key witnesses in this case. The next hearing is scheduled for 4 May 2026.

REDHAC has expressed its strong objection to this decision and the consequent delay to the trial, which further undermines Maximilienne Ngo Mbe's human rights work and exacerbates the judicial harassment she is experiencing. Front Line Defenders is also concerned that the presence of a state representative at this hearing, coupled with the court's authorisation of the plaintiff's submission of additional evidence, suggests that the authorities in Cameroon intend to avoid a judgement in this case and prolong the proceedings against Maximilienne Ngo Mbe.

Front Line Defenders therefore urges the authorities in Cameroon to drop all charges against Maximilienne Ngo Mbe. Front Line Defenders believes that the criminalisation of the woman human rights defender, as well as the prolonged judicial harassment she has endured, are reprisals for her legitimate and peaceful human rights work.

On 1 December 2025, the Court of First Instance of Douala-Bonanjo held the fourth hearing in the case of the State of Cameroon against women human rights defender, Maximilienne Ngo Mbe, based on charges including ‘breaking of seals,’ ‘rebellion,’ and other related offences.

The hearing was held in the absence of the State’s representative, the Prefect of the Wouri. Maximilienne Ngo Mbe was absent due to health issues but remained represented by her lawyer. Citing the absence of the State’s representative, the presiding judge adjourned the case to 2 February 2026 for the “appearance of all parties.”

At the previous hearing on 6 October 2025, the Court issued a ‘final’ adjournment of the case to 1 December 2025. This was issued on the same basis that the State’s representative was absent from the hearing.

The repeated failure of the authorities to ensure the presence of the State’s representative has resulted in multiple delays since proceedings began in April 2025. These undue delays directly inhibit the right to a fair trial.

On 4 August 2025, the Douala-Bonanjo Court of First Instance in Cameroon held a hearing in the case of the State of Cameroon, represented by the Prefect of Wouri, against women human rights defenders Alice Nkom and Maximilienne Ngo Mbe, Co-Chair and Executive Director of the Central Africa Human Rights Defenders Network (REDHAC). The two women human rights defenders are facing charges of “breaking seals,” “rebellion,” and “refusal to comply with a summons,” following the forced closure of REDHAC’s offices in December 2024 by the Ministry of Territorial Administration. The organisation itself has been cited as civilly liable in the case.

Alice Nkom is a Cameroonian lawyer and woman human rights defender with over twenty years of experience working on human rights, with a particular focus on LGBTIQ+ rights and women’s rights. She has been a member of the Cameroonian Bar from 1971 – 2022. Alice Nkom is the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of REDHAC, and has been working for the organisation since 2010. REDHAC is a coalition of human rights defenders active in eight countries in Central Africa. The organisation represents over 400 members, including human rights defenders, lawyers, and journalists, with the aim to mitigate the risks that they face, and raise awareness of the human rights situation in the region.

Maximilienne Ngo Mbe is a woman human rights defender and the Executive Director of REDHAC. She has been the subject of threats and smear campaigns in the past, specifically in relation to REDHAC’s work in the Anglophone regions of Cameroon and their work with the LGBTIQ+ community.

Although the women human rights defenders Alice Nkom and Maximilienne Ngo Mbe, on behalf of themselves and REDHAC, were physically present and formally represented in court by a large group of lawyers, the Court nevertheless questioned the legal representation of REDHAC due to the absence of supporting documents. The judge ruled that the organisation’s 2019 statutes, submitted without the accompanying general assembly minutes and the alleged inability of the Chair of the Board of Directors to validly represent REDHAC, were insufficient to formally recognise its counsel. REDHAC has been unable to access its offices or documentation since the sealing of the premises in December 2024.

The organisation and women human rights defenders’ legal representation initially requested a postponement of the trial and a judicial site visit to obtain the missing documents. The Public Prosecutor, who claimed to be having difficulty summoning the Prefect of Wouri, supported a postponement of the hearing. Following discussions, the organisation’s legal representation withdrew the site visit request and the trial was firmly adjourned to 6 October 2025, when the Prefect of Wouri will appear before the Court and proceedings will continue.

Front Line Defenders is deeply concerned about the continued judicial harassment against women human rights defenders Alice Nkom and Maximilienne Ngo Mbe, and the deliberate attempts to compromise REDHAC’s operations. The organisation believes the charges intended to obstruct the peaceful human rights work of REDHAC and silence dissenting voices in Cameroon. It reiterates its call on the Cameroonian authorities to drop all charges against Alice Nkom and Maximilienne Ngo Mbe, immediately lift the suspension and sealing of REDHAC, and ensure that all human rights defenders in Cameroon can carry out their work in a safe and enabling environment, in line with the country’s obligations under regional and international human rights law.