Cameroon: Civil society members arbitrarily detained in Garoua must be immediately released

The Cameroonian authorities should instantly launch three supporters of the affiliation Pouvoir au Peuple Camerounais (Energy to the Individuals of Cameroon – PPC) and their family members arbitrarily arrested and detained for a fortnight and put an finish to arbitrary arrests and detention within the nation, Amnesty Worldwide stated right now.

On 9 September, three supporters of the PPC, Moustapha Tizi, Mohamadou Ballo and Ibrahim Oumarou had been arrested allegedly for carrying t-shirts bearing the identify of the group within the city of Figuil, within the Mayo-Louti division within the North area. Hapsatou Issa, the sister of a PPC spokesperson, was additionally arrested on the identical day. The PPC, a youth group based in August 2024, requires a regime change.

“A yr forward of the presidential election wherein President Paul Biya, who has been in energy since 1982, plans to run, arbitrary arrests and detention of individuals perceived as vital in opposition to the regime are multiplying. The go to to Cameroon at first of August by the United Nations Excessive Commissioner for Human Rights, who cited ‘severe issues over restrictions on the liberty of expression and affiliation and the appropriate to peaceable meeting’, has not altered this pattern,” stated Fabien Offner, researcher at Amnesty Worldwide’s regional workplace for West and Central Africa.

Family members of PPC supporters additionally arrested

Moustapha Tizi, Mohamadou Ballo, Ibrahim Oumarou and Hapsatou Issa had been transferred to Garoua on 13 September. In accordance with info gathered by Amnesty Worldwide, Hapsatou Issa is at the moment being held on the northern gendarmerie legion, Moustapha Tizi and Mohamadou Ballo on the Garoua 1 gendarmerie analysis brigade, and Ibrahim Oumarou on the Garoua judicial police.

Hapsatou Issa was arrested on the evening of 9-10 September at her house. In accordance with her household, she was advised she had been arrested as a result of she is the sister of a PPC spokesperson, who’s at the moment on the run after receiving threats. Hapsatou Issa’s son, who had come to go to his detained mom to convey her meals was additionally arrested and has since been held on the Garoua 1 gendarmerie analysis brigade.

“In recent times, anybody who dares criticize the authorities, whether or not a human rights defender, a journalist, an activist for the Anglophone trigger or a demonstrator, runs the chance of being arbitrarily arrested and detained, tortured and tried by army courts in violation of the nation’s worldwide human rights obligations. Sadly, this pattern is more likely to enhance because the presidential election approaches”, stated Fabien Offner.

“Authorities should finish the rising crackdown on human rights, make sure the human rights of everybody, and uphold the nation’s worldwide human rights obligations together with beneath the African Constitution on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the Worldwide Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to which Cameroon is a state get together.”

Two activists arrested in earlier months 

Cameroonian activist Yves Kibouy Bershu, often known as Ramon Cotta, has additionally been arbitrarily detained since his arrest on 19 July 2024 in Gabon, the place he was residing. He was transferred to Cameroon on 23 July with none identified authorized or diplomatic process, based on his legal professionals. He’s being held in Yaoundé on the Central Judicial Analysis Division of the Secretary of State for Defence. He was capable of meet his legal professionals solely a month after his arrest. In accordance with them, he’s charged with acts of terrorism, revolt, financing terrorism, arms trafficking and insulting the President and members of the federal government. Movies of Ramon Cotta posted on social media and reviewed by Amnesty Worldwide had been primarily restricted to criticisms of the Cameroonian authorities and criticism of the Cameroonian embassy in Gabon.

In accordance with his legal professionals, Ramon Cotta is more likely to have been subjected to torture and different ill-treatment resulting in a partial paralysis, and to have skilled difficulties in accessing healthcare. This could represent violations of the Nelson Mandela Guidelines for the Remedy of Prisoners.

Junior Ngombe, a 23-year-old hairdresser and activist, was arbitrarily detained from 24 July to 31 July after denouncing Ramon Cotta’s arrest in a video seen greater than 218,000 instances on TikTok.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Amnesty Worldwide.