A recent intervention in Cameroon’s Bafoussam Central Prison has led to the release of 38 young detainees who were previously trapped behind bars due to unpaid court-ordered financial penalties.

These individuals, aged between 16 and 28, faced financial hardship that prevented them from settling their contraintes par corps—compulsory monetary obligations imposed alongside prison sentences. The funds required ranged from 40,000 to 150,000 Central African francs (approximately 60 to 228 euros).

This marks the eighth such initiative since 2014 by the Françoise Puene Foundation for Freedom, a local NGO dedicated to legal aid and humanitarian support for indigent prisoners.

Overcrowding driven by unpaid penalties

Prison officials confirm that overcrowding in Cameroon’s detention centers is worsened by detainees’ inability to pay court-imposed debts. Adray Epente Tazeu, Secretary-General of the Western Region’s governor’s office, stated, « Our prisons are over capacity because many inmates cannot afford to settle their financial obligations after serving their sentences. »

Humanitarian effort targets vulnerable youth

According to Françoise Puene, founder of the foundation, the majority of inmates in Bafoussam Central Prison are young people aged 16 to 28. « Upon assessing the situation across the country, we found that this prison alone holds a high proportion of minors—some as young as 16 or 17—alongside young adults up to 28 years old. »

The foundation’s intervention not only secures their release but also provides a pathway toward legal rehabilitation, ensuring these individuals can reintegrate into society without the burden of unresolved financial penalties.

Voices from those set free

Among those released was Efred Ngayeu, who spent nine months in detention instead of the six-month sentence he received due to the additional financial penalty. « I’m truly grateful that someone paid my debt, allowing me to go home, » he shared.

Under Cameroon’s Penal Procedure Code, all convicted individuals must fulfill court-ordered financial restitutions or penalties upon completion of their prison terms. Failure to do so often results in prolonged detention, deepening cycles of poverty and incarceration.