Swiss-Cameroonian activist deported to Switzerland
Nathalie Yamb said she had been deported for 'activities incompatible with the national interest'
Twitter/Nathalie Yamb
Côte d’Ivoire has expelled Nathalie Yamb, a member of the opposition party Lider, and deported her to Switzerland. A month ago she criticised the government of the West African country at the Russia-Africa summit in Sochi.
This content was published on
1 minute
Keystone-SDA/ts
The political activist, who has a Swiss mother and Cameroonian father, has lived in Côte d’Ivoire for years and advises the politician and presidential candidate Mamadou Koulibaly.
Yamb tweeted on Monday that she had been deported to Switzerland for “activities incompatible with the national interest”. Above a photo taken on a plane, she wrote: “History will prove us right. The fight continues.”
External Content
Expulsée vers la Suisse pour activités incompatibles avec l’intérêt national. On dirait que Yvette et Rachel ne partagent pas cette opinion de TonTon. Ils font leur travail. Nous faisons le notre. L’histoire nous donnera raison. La lutte continue #EffetSochiExternal linkpic.twitter.com/EkZjITQT7QExternal link
According to the deportation decision taken by the interior minister, Yamb is said to have undertaken political activities that are prohibited by her status as a foreigner.
Criticism of colonialism
Koulibaly criticised that his adviser had been deported without trial. What’s more, he said, foreigners are not banned from being politically active in Côte d’Ivoire – they just can’t preside over a political movement.
At the Russia-Africa summit in Sochi at the end of October, Yamb was critical of France’s presence in Africa and the government of Côte d’Ivoire.
“France continues to regard the African continent as its property,” she said, adding that under the pretext of defence agreements the French military bases serve to plunder resources, maintain rebellions, train terrorists and keep dictators in power.
Popular Stories
More
Foreign affairs
Magnitsky case: How Switzerland failed to investigate Russian millions
What do you think Switzerland’s Alain Berset can bring to the Council of Europe?
The former interior minister is to become the first Swiss Secretary General of the Council of Europe – which issues should his five-year term focus on?
Initiative for Switzerland to back nuclear weapon ban launched
This content was published on
The Alliance for a Nuclear Weapons Ban has launched a popular initiative for Switzerland to join the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
Swiss film director faces backlash over AI-written screenplay
This content was published on
Complaints from film fans over the use of AI has led Prince Charles Cinema in London to cancel the premiere of The Last Screenwriter.
Prices of certain cheap medicine to rise sharply in Switzerland
This content was published on
Consumers in Switzerland face higher prices for certain common medicine following a reform of the pricing system that came into force on July 1.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Swiss focus on scientific collaboration with Ivory Coast
This content was published on
Swiss Economics Minister Johann Schneider-Ammann on Sunday ended a two-day visit to Ivory Coast, looking at opportunities to strengthen scientific cooperation between the two countries.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.