Camer360

Thirteen supporters of the Movement for the Renaissance of Cameroon (MRC) were released on bail after more than two weeks in custody at the Gendarmerie Group near the Lake in Yaoundé, according to lawyer Hyppolite Meli of the Sylvain Souop collective. The group was arrested between 4–5 August during proceedings at the Constitutional Council and was initially taken before the military tribunal on allegations of “rebellion.” Late last week, the military prosecutor transferred the file to the Court of First Instance (CFI) of Yaoundé-Centre Administratif, where the detainees posted bail and regained freedom 18 days after their arrest.

Despite these releases, 13 people remain in custody—ten at Central Police Station No. 1 in Yaoundé and three at the Regional Division of the Judicial Police (DRPJ) for the Centre. The lawyer says one of those still held is a pregnant woman. A list shared by counsel includes: Toumeni Emmanuel (petrochemical engineer), Djeumeni Njoya Noel (trader), Deugoue Michel (film director), Oumbo Victor (businessman visiting from Malaysia), Nyebe Eboa Benoît, Bamou Jean Évalis (company head), Tchapda Francis (IT specialist), Kamguia Valery (trader), Tchudjeng Kengne Eric, and Timma Ella (pregnant).

Meli also denounced what he called procedural “maneuvers” surrounding the continued detentions, alleging an informal request of 25,000 FCFA related to a seized phone and the absence of a formal receipt. Authorities had not publicly responded at the time of publication. He further noted that several youths detained earlier this month for printing leaflets bearing the slogan “No Kamto, No Election” were released on Tuesday night. Two members of the same family—a secretariat manager in Obobogo and a 17-year-old who worked there—were questioned alongside the client who allegedly placed the printing order.

Rights advocates and families are urging due process and an end to arbitrary detention as the 2025 presidential election approaches, warning that escalating pressure on peaceful supporters and observers undermines confidence in the pre-electoral environment in the capital.