Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2002 (31 Mar. 2003), La Nouvelle Expression (10 Apr. 2002), and the Africa News Bulletin - Bulletin d'information africaine (11 Apr. 2002) reported that the Ma'alah sect was banned following the death of a girl in April 2002.

The Africa News Bulletin - Bulletin d'information africaine (ANB-BIA) indicated that,

[translation]

on 8 April, the Prefet of Wouri in Douala banned the activities of a Christian sect known as Ma'alah pursuant to a prefectoral decision announced in Douala. This decision followed the death of a girl... . Convinced that "the child was possessed by the devil himself," Ma'alah followers beat the girl to death with steel wires under the pretence of setting her free. An arrest warrant was issued against the priestess, Marie Yagaka, who was in Europe at the time. Authorities are holding three other suspects in custody in Douala (11 Apr. 2002, italics in original).

According to a report in the 10 April 2002 issue of La Nouvelle Expression that was cited in the press review of the French embassy in Cameroon, the infanticide attributed to the influence of the sect's priestess and founder was apparently committed in Douala's Bepanda neighbourhood. La Nouvelle Expression indicated that,

[translation]

on 25 March, a six year-old girl was beaten to death by three of the sect's followers under the pretence that she was possessed... . Since declaring herself a priestess over 20 years ago, Julienne Yagaka, a.k.a. Ma'alah, has gained considerable influence in Douala's Bepanda neibourhood: today, the sect has over 10,000 followers, and many divorces, quarrels and even assassinations have been attributed to Ms. Yagaka's influence. The priestess has been excommunicated by the Archbishop of Douala, Christian Tumi (10 Apr. 2002).

Furthermore, Le Messager reported that, despite the ban on [translation] "all meetings" of the Ma'alah sect [translation] "throughout the department," Yagaka's followers apparently continued to hold prayer and healing sessions (10 Apr. 2002). This source also indicated that sect members felt they were being [translation] "made martyrs" and did not understand why their movement was being targeted [translation] "when there are so many sects in Cameroon" (Le Messager 10 Apr. 2002).

According to Country Reports 2002, on 25 March 2002, 6-year-old Manuella Cynthia Selam Tiave, supposedly possessed by the devil, was reportedly tortured and killed by her mother and two other Ma'alah sect members during an exorcism (31 Mar. 2003). "In early April [2002], the Prefet of Wouri Division banned the Malla'a sect because of the alleged murder" (Country Reports 2002 31 Mar. 2003).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Africa News Bulletin - Bulletin d'information africaine. 11 April 2002. "Weekly News Issue of 11-04-2002 : Cameroun : secte interdite." http://ospiti.peacelinkit/anb-bia/week_2k2/020411b.htm [Accessed 2 Dec. 2003]

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2002. 31 March 2003. United States Department of State. Washington, DC. http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2002/18172.htm [Accessed 2 Dec. 2003]

Le Messager [Douala]. 10 April 2002. "Les prières continuent chez Ma'alah." http://www.ambafrance-cm.org/html/camero/medias/presse/08041204.htm [Accessed 2 Dec. 2003]

La Nouvelle Expression [Douala]. 10 April 2002. "Ma'alah en exil aux États-Unis." http://www.ambafrance-cm.org/html/camero/medias/presse/08041204.htm [Accessed 2 Dec. 2003]

Additional Sources Consulted

Africa Research Bulletin:

Political, Cultural and Social Series

Afrique/Asie

Amnesty International. Annual reports
L'

Autre Afrique

Human Rights Watch

International Religious Freedom Report 2002. 7 October 2002. United States Department of State. Washington, DC.
Keesing'

s Record of World Events

New African

Resource Centre country file. Cameroon

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