Drame d’Eseka au Cameroun: pour l’avocat des victimes, la justice «laisse de côté un certain nombre de responsables»
Summary
Lawyer Michel Janvier-Vouken discusses the 2016 Cameroon train crash, arguing that lower-level staff were unjustly convicted while senior officials and the Bolloré group escaped accountability. He highlights the inadequate compensation and psychological support provided to victims, many of whom settled out of court due to financial pressure. The interview also addresses the ongoing judicial delays in the appeal process and the persistent safety risks on the rail line due to the absence of a regulatory authority.
Topics discussed
Investigation findings: Camerail's technical and managerial failures
The train conductor's role and his subsequent flight
Critique of convictions: Scapegoating lower-level staff
Accountability of senior executives and the Bolloré group
Responsibility of the Ministry of Transport and concession oversight
Appeal strategy and the lack of ministerial defendants
Inadequate compensation and lack of psychological support
Settlements and victims' financial vulnerability
Judicial delays and the disappearance of victims
Current safety risks and the need for a railway regulator
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