Cameroonian opposition leader Maurice Kamto has been released in prison after months. Apart from Kamto, dozens of other opposition supporters left the prison on Saturday in the capital Yaoundé, a dpa reporter reported. For the first time, the president of the country has heard the calls of the opposition, said a lawyer Kamtos, Christopher Ndong.
Cameroonian leader Paul Biya said on Friday that the allegations against Kamto and several other opposition supporters were dropped. They were accused, among other things, of revolt against the state. Biya wants to find a peaceful solution to the crises in the country, he said.
Kamto, head of the MRC party, and about 100 other people were arrested in January after anti-government demonstrations. Thousands of opposition supporters took to the streets to protest against President Paul Biya, who had ruled for more than 35 years.
The protests against the 85-year-old head of state had increased significantly since 2017. The background is also a crisis between the francophone majority and the English-speaking minority of the country. The Anglophone minority had announced in 2016 to split off and to found a country Ambazonia. Their followers feel like second-class citizens. Since then, the protests have become increasingly intense, often resulting in deadly riots.
German citizen still imprisoned
The German engineer Wilfried S still sits in cameroonian detention. The graduate engineer was arrested in February after visiting relatives a few hours before returning home. Cameroon's authorities accuse S. of destabilizing the state of Cameroon and causing a rebellion. He is also accused of destroying state property. In September, S. was charged with a military court.
Apparently, the authorities are using photos that S. had on his digital camera as well as his participation in government-critical WhatsApp groups. Frau von S. told SPIEGEL that although her husband sympathized with the ideas of some oppositionists, during his time in Cameroon he was not politically active.
