The government of Cameroon is attempting to prevent the visit of France's LGBT+ rights ambassador, Jean-Marc Berthon, to the country for a conference on gender and sexual identity, citing violations of anti-homosexuality laws.
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Ambassador Berthon had scheduled a visit to Cameroon from June 27 to July 1, during which he would participate in the event organized by the French institute in the capital city of Yaounde.
In an internal letter seen by Reuters, the Cameroonian government sent a diplomatic notice to the French ambassador, expressing its opposition to Berthon's visit and all planned activities, including the conference.
As of Wednesday, the French embassy had not responded to multiple requests for comment.
Homosexuality is criminalized in 32 out of 54 African countries, and in Cameroon, engaging in same-sex relations can result in prison sentences of up to five years.
Human Rights Watch has reported an increase in abuses against the LGBT+ community in Cameroon, including violent attacks and arbitrary arrests.
Berthon's intended visit to Cameroon follows Uganda's recent enactment of stringent anti-LGBTQ legislation, which includes severe punishments such as long jail terms and the death penalty.
