Security firms, anti-terrorism bills considered by Senate

The Constitutional Laws Committee met on Saturday, December 7, 2014.

Following their adoption in the National Assembly on December 4, 2014, it was the turn of the Senate Constitutional Laws Committee on Saturday, December 6, 2014, to discuss the draft bills on private security firms and anti-terrorism measures.

The bills were defended by the Minister of Justice and Keeper of the Seals, Laurent Esso, in the presence of the Vice Prime Minister, Minister Delegate at the Presidency in charge of Relations with the Assemblies, Amadou Ali.

The committee meeting, which was led by its Chairman, Senator Siegfried Etame Massoma, was also attended by Senate President, Marcel Niat Njifenji.

Private Security Firms

The bill seeks to amend and supplement some provisions of the Law No 97/21 of September 1997 on Private Security Companies. Such firms are henceforth required to get official approval before going operational; with sanctions ranging from fines to imprisonment of officials. For now, only nine Private Security Companies are duly approved in Cameroon; 32 operate without authorisation after applying; while many more carry out their activities in total disregard of provisions of the law.

Anti-terrorism Measures

The draft bill recommends capital punishment (death penalty) for whoever commits a terrorist act alone, as an accomplice or accessory. The bill punishes whoever engages in financing terrorism, recruitment, money laundering, or supports or applauds terrorist activities.

Also likely to be sanctioned are people who threaten to commit an act likely to cause death, endanger physical integrity, cause bodily injury or material damage, destroy natural resources, the environment or cultural heritage.

Such conduct is especially liable to punishment if it is intended to intimidate the public, provoke a situation of terror or force the victim, the government and or a national or international organisation to carry out or refrain from carrying out an act, or adopt or renounce a particular position.