A vocal critic of a constitutional reform that will allow President Paul Biya to stand for another term in 2011 was arrested on Wednesday.
According to his wife, the singer Lapiro de Mbanga has been accused of instigating riots in Mbanga in February. Lapiro, who stood as a candidate for the opposition Social Democratic Front in municipal elections in July 2007, released a song called Constitution Constipée which condemns the removal of the limit on the number of presidential terms. Members of parliament voted to pass the amendment on Thursday — the day after the Lapiro’s arrest — allowing Biya, who has been in power since 1982, to stand for another term.
NEWS
Cameroon singer arrested
A vocal critic of a constitutional reform that will allow President Paul Biya to stand for another term in 2011 was arrested on Wednesday. According to his wife, the singer Lapiro de Mbanga has been accused of instigating riots in Mbanga in February. Lapiro, who stood as a candidate for the opposition Social Democratic Front […]
11 Apr 08
Support free expression for all
Prev
Next
At Index on Censorship, we believe everyone deserves the right to speak freely, challenge power and share ideas without fear. In a world where governments tighten control and algorithms distort the truth, defending those rights is more urgent than ever.
But free speech is not free. Instead we rely on readers like you to keep our journalism independent, our advocacy sharp and our support for writers, artists and dissidents strong.
If you believe in a future where voices aren’t silenced, help us protect it.
At Index on Censorship, we believe everyone deserves the right to speak freely, challenge power and share ideas without fear. In a world where governments tighten control and algorithms distort the truth, defending those rights is more urgent than ever.
But free speech is not free. Instead we rely on readers like you to keep our journalism independent, our advocacy sharp and our support for writers, artists and dissidents strong.
If you believe in a future where voices aren’t silenced, help us protect it.
At Index on Censorship, we believe everyone deserves the right to speak freely, challenge power and share ideas without fear. In a world where governments tighten control and algorithms distort the truth, defending those rights is more urgent than ever.
But free speech is not free. Instead we rely on readers like you to keep our journalism independent, our advocacy sharp and our support for writers, artists and dissidents strong.
If you believe in a future where voices aren’t silenced, help us protect it.
At Index on Censorship, we believe everyone deserves the right to speak freely, challenge power and share ideas without fear. In a world where governments tighten control and algorithms distort the truth, defending those rights is more urgent than ever.
But free speech is not free. Instead we rely on readers like you to keep our journalism independent, our advocacy sharp and our support for writers, artists and dissidents strong.
If you believe in a future where voices aren’t silenced, help us protect it.
At Index on Censorship, we believe everyone deserves the right to speak freely, challenge power and share ideas without fear. In a world where governments tighten control and algorithms distort the truth, defending those rights is more urgent than ever.
But free speech is not free. Instead we rely on readers like you to keep our journalism independent, our advocacy sharp and our support for writers, artists and dissidents strong.
If you believe in a future where voices aren’t silenced, help us protect it.
READ MORE
-
The week in free expression: 9 August – 15 August 2025
Index rounds up of some of the key stories covering censorship and free expression from the past seven days
-
The Online Safety Act risks making everyone less safe
The fallibility of technology means that the privacy of us all could be compromised, as new rules on age verification come into force
-
Just Stop Oil climate protests feel the chill
There is growing pressure on environmental activists in the UK, the second most likely country in the world for protesters to be arrested
-
The rise of the American dissident
A panel at Index's latest magazine launch discussed the Trump administration’s attacks on state-funded media, the legal establishment and academia