The National President of the Cameroonian Party for National Reconciliation, PCRN Hon Cabral Libii Li Ngue has debunks rumours of him calling for the decriminalization of homosexuality in Cameroon.
The PCRN leader published a tweet on June 25, with screenshot of pseudo account bearing his identity.
The pseudo account alleged that the political figure had called for Cameroon to follow the landmark change in neighbouring Republic of Gabon that has legalised homosexual acts in the country.
“Homosexuality is normal and legitimate and I’ve always called for its adoption in Cameroon, which remains with its homophobic regime,” the fake account read.
According to Mr Libii, the claim contradicts his political line and conviction. “I bring a formal denial to this tweet which in its form and substance, is very far from his style, conviction and political line defended by the PCRN” the member of parliament tweeted.
He has urged Cameroonians to remain focused on matters that really preoccupies them.
Gabon’s National Assembly voted last Tuesday June 23, to adopt an amendment to criminal legislation to remove a paragraph which prohibits “sexual relations between persons of the same sex”.
According to the AFP news agency, 48 Members of Parliament voted in favour of decriminalization, 24 against and 25 absented.
The bill which is at the level of Gabon’s Senate has since Tuesday caused a stir in local press and on social media.
Meanwhile in Cameroon, article 347-1 of the 2016 Penal Code prohibits sexual relations with a person of the same sex with a penalty of six months to five years as a fine.
Several cases of arrest linked to acts of homosexual have been reported. According to reports 23 persons are presently at the Kondengui central prison in Yaounde, arrested in April 2018 for alleged gay practice.
Also, six individuals accused of homosexuality were detained at the Nkolemesseng gendarmerie brigade in Yaounde in October 2014.
The Cameroonian society as seen through public debates remains blunt towards homosexuality.
A man was allegedly stone to death last year in Maroua, Far north region by mobs after being found with his male partner.
Cameroon has stood it grounds in rejecting calls from France, Germany, Ireland, Spain, Mexico, Uruguay, Australia and the US to decriminalize consensual same-sex sexual activity, reports say.
40-year-old Cabral Libii during last February Twin elections was elected into Cameroon’s house of Parliament under the PCRN party to represent the Nyong Ekele division in the Centre region.
Under the Univers Party, he was officially declared second runner up in the 2018 presidential election won by incumbent president Paul Biya.