By Tata Mbunwe
Several militants of the Cameroon Renaissance Movement party (CRM) were arrested outside the Constitutional Council on Monday, according to a statement from the party’s interim President, Mamadou Mota said in a statement.
He strongly condemned the arbitrary arrest, stating that dozens of militants were rounded up by the police outside the Constitutional Council where pre-election appeals were being heard.
Mota described the crackdown as a “blatant violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms.”
The arrests occurred as the Constitutional Council began hearing pre-election petitions, a process drawing significant public attention.
The government had stationed dozens of gendarmes and police officers around the Constitutional Council premises and at major spots in the city amid fears of a riot.
Journalists were also barred from live streaming the session and some reported being prevented from inching close to the Constitutional Council building.
Among 35 pre-election appeals the Constitutional Council began examining on Monday were two from opposition leader Maurice Kamto, who was disqualified from the 2025 presidential race.
The former president of the CRM party submitted his candidacy under the less popular MANIDEM party, but it was rejected because Dieudonne Yebga also filed under the same party.
Many CRM supporters who saw Kamto’s rejected as a political witchthaunt against the regime critic had called for massive mobilization around the Constitutional Council building, which prompted heavy security deployment.
Mamadou Mota criticized the heavy police presence, labeling it a sign of the regime’s fear of the CRM’s resolve to uphold republican values.
“The excessive mobilization of police to arrest peaceful citizens is a demonstration of the regime’s fear in the face of the MRC’s determination to defend republican values,” he stated.
He further denounced the deportation of the detained militants to unknown locations, calling it a practice reminiscent of “the darkest hours of our history.”
Mota emphasized that the police’s role is to protect citizens, not target them, especially given the public nature of the Constitutional Council proceedings.
“The deliberation at the Constitutional Court is public, and citizens have the right to take an interest in it and demonstrate peacefully,” he asserted.
The CRM leader has demanded the immediate release of all arrested militants, vowing that the party would not be cowed by repressive tactics.
“We have always believed in democracy and freedom, and we will continue to fight for these ideals despite the fierce opposition of the current regime,” Mota declared.
“We will not let ourselves be intimidated by these repressive methods and will continue to fight for democracy and freedom in Cameroon.”
Authorities have made no official statement concerning the arrests.
