Aboubacar Siddiki, a militant of the National Union for Democracy and Progress (NUDP) party, was rearrested shortly after he was arrested and detained for criticizing the Governor of the Adamawa Region, Kildadi Taguieke Boucar.
Siddiki, who is popularly known as Babadjo, left prison on June 21 after serving a three-month jail term for criticizing the Adamawa Governor in a WhatsApp forum.
Human Rights Watch says he was recently rearrested “on charges of disturbing public order, demonstration, and hate speech”.
In a release on July 3, the organisation condemned Siddiki’s rearrest as an affront to freedom of speech, adding that it is another instance of government’s high-handedness towards dissenting voices in Cameroon.
His recent rearrest, Babadjo’s lawyer told HRW, was based on claims by the police that his supporters were “planning to demonstrate to celebrate his release”.
“This latest arrest of Babadjo exemplifies the government’s repression towards opposition and dissenting voices,” a political party leader, Aboubakary Siddiki, told Human Rights Watch.
“The crackdown is increasing ahead of the 2025 vote as we see political meetings and political coalitions banned,” Aboubakary Siddiki added.
Opposition politicians in Cameroon have suffered crackdowns from government officials in the past, with the Minister of Territorial Administration banning two opposition coalitions.
Moreso, politicians like Cabral Libii of the PCRN party and Maurice Kamto of the CRM have accused the regime of stifling freedoms and attempting to disrupt opposition parties.
