Hundreds of Cameroonians arrested before, during and after the September 22nd 2020 nationwide protest in some towns and cities in Cameroon are still in detention.
They have not been given access to their lawyers nor family members while some are detained in unknown places.
It is in the face of what human right defenders call “repression and dictatorship” that Cameroonians are seeking alternative means to express their indignation to the regime of President Paul Biya.
Friday, October 2nd 2020 appears to be the day many Cameroonians have heeded to the call to go about their normal daily activities while putting on black. According to Edith Kah Walla, Leader of Cameroon Peoples’ Party (CPP) and member of a platform called “Stand Up For Cameroon” (SUFC), “Cameroonians putting on black every Friday is a peaceful nonviolent way to denounce poor governance and a call for a peaceful political transition that will usher in a republic and leaders that have the wellbeing of Cameroonians at heart”.
Fred Moyondou, a business man in Douala is in black outfit Friday, October 2nd. To him, “I am not a militant of any political party in Cameroon but I want change of leadership in my country. President Paul Biya and his government have plunged Cameroon into chaos, economic hardship and misery. Aware that we are in a military state, I and my family members cannot march on the street to denounce poor governance but we show our discontentment every Friday by putting on black symbolizing our call for a political transition”.
“Putting on black every Friday is a non violent action that conveys a strong message of pain and the need to change the leadership. Besides, it does not give room to the military to arbitrarily arrest someone for putting on black,” Albert Moudoutou, President of UPC- Manidem party tells Mimi Mefo Info.
According to the militant and activist for justice, equality and respect of the laws of the land, the prolonged crisis in the North West and South West regions, continous incursion of Boko Haram insurgents in the North region of Cameroon, unemployment and embezzlement of state funds by our leaders all depict that the present leadership in Cameroon is a mess.
In a release signed September 30th, 2020,the president of Cameroon Renaissance Movement (CRM) party regional federation Littoral 1, Eugene Ngahane called on militants of the party in the region to respect “Friday in black”, a call by the platform “Stand Up for Cameroon”.
CRM party militants putting on black today Friday, October 2nd, 2020 besides denouncing poor governance and calling for a political transition are equally calling on the government to stop the militarization of the residence of Prof. Maurice Kamto. The unannounced house arrest has been effective since September 20th.
Observers say the number of Cameroonians that adopted the habit of putting on black every Friday in Douala,Yaounde, Bafoussam, Bamenda, Buea and other towns and villages shows that despite the repression from the government the inner zeal for a political change remains alive in Cameroonians.
Mbatho Ntan.
