Cameroon’s Opposition Leader Released from Prison

Maurice Kamto, the leader of Cameroon’s main opposition party Mouvement pour la Rennaiaance du Cameroun (MRC), has been released from prison after his arrest earlier in January of this year.

The move has been welcomed by the international community, with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterras reportedly “encouraged” that things in Cameroon are moving in the right direction.

A statement released by his spokesperson stated that the “Secretary General also welcomes the holding of the National Dialogue and encourages meaningful follow-up.  

He reiterates the readiness of the United Nations to assist the authorities and the people of Cameroon in this regard”.

Mr. Kamto, along with around 300 of his supporters, were detained earlier this year during protests he organised over last year’s presidential elections.

Charges were dropped for all detainees on Thursday in what appears to be a good-will gesture.

President Paul Biya won a seventh term in office in October with over 70 per cent of the vote during an election that was marred by violence and low voter turnout.

Mr. Kamto’s MRC came in second place, polling just 14.2 per cent of the vote, and disputes the validity of the result.

Cameroon, a majority-French speaking country, has long be dogged by violence in its two Anglophone North-West and South-West regions.

President Biya was hoping to strike a reconciliatory tone in a week that was dubbed a “Major National Dialogue”, as the government seeks to end the three-year conflict and quell separatist tensions.