Cameroonian academics beaten up during jobs protest

Three Cameroonian academics have been hospitalised after police attacked them during a protest in the capital, Yaoundé. 

The victims were part of a group of roughly 200 PhD holders, who were protesting against losing out on jobs at state universities. The academics argued that they deserved better, after volunteering in state universities for years. Their spokesperson, Nanan Herman, pointed out that the successful recruits had lesser qualifications. 

Another protester, a 45 year-old woman, was also rushed to hospital after reportedly ingesting poison. 

Higher Education Minister Jacques Fame Ndongo promised on Tuesday to investigate the protestors’ grievances but maintained that university recruitment had been made entirely on merit. 

Some protestors have started a hunger strike at the ministry’s headquarters. They intend to remain there until the government offers them paid positions. 

Photo credit: BBC News