Amnesty International has urged the immediate release of 36 members of Cameroon’s opposition Movement for the Renaissance of Cameroon (MRC), who have been imprisoned for five years following peaceful protests against President Paul Biya.
In a statement issued on September 22, the human rights organization condemned what it described as the arbitrary detention of individuals punished for expressing their political views. The detainees were sentenced in 2019 to terms ranging from one to seven years under charges of “rebellion” and “attempted insurrection.”
Tensions have intensified in recent months as Cameroon prepares for its presidential election. In August, 54 additional MRC supporters were arrested in the capital, Yaoundé, after the electoral commission rejected the candidacy of Maurice Kamto. Though those individuals were later released on bail, the incident has raised concerns about shrinking civic space and political freedoms.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has also voiced concern over the ability of Cameroonian voters to freely express their will in the upcoming election.
President Paul Biya, now 92, is seeking an eighth term in office. He has led the country for nearly 43 years, making him Africa’s second-longest-serving head of state after Equatorial Guinea’s Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo. If re-elected in the October 12 vote, Biya could remain in power until nearly age 100. He faces 11 challengers, including opposition figure Issa Tchiroma Bakary.
Despite its wealth in natural resources such as oil and minerals, Cameroon continues to grapple with deep-rooted challenges, including a violent separatist conflict and widespread corruption. According to UN estimates, approximately 43% of the population lives in poverty, based on indicators such as income, education, and healthcare access.
