In the wake of Cameroon’s turbulent 2025 post-election crisis, the civil movement Stand Up For Cameroon (SUFC) has intensified its advocacy for detainees arrested during the protests that followed the disputed presidential results.
On Tuesday, November 11, 2025, SUFC representatives met with key authorities in Douala, including the Warden of New Bell Prison, the Governor of the Littoral Region, and the Littoral Regional Delegate for Prison Administration, to assess detention conditions and push for urgent humanitarian and legal interventions.
According to SUFC, 257 inmates, including 32 women, are currently held at New Bell Prison in connection with the post-election unrest. Since last week, 170 detainees have gained access to legal assistance through the Citizens’ Defence Collective, which mobilised 27 volunteer lawyers, 12 of whom are actively defending the detainees.
The organization also delivered basic necessities to 190 inmates, with identification efforts ongoing for the remaining 67. During discussions, the Regional Delegate for Prison Administration acknowledged that lawyers had previously been denied access to the 187 detainees held at Ngoma Prison (PK19) a figure earlier reported by the Union pour le Changement 2025, which recently released a census confirming 353 post-election detainees at that facility. The Delegate has since pledged to grant immediate access to defense lawyers.
SUFC further secured approval for volunteer doctors to begin medical visits to detainees, a move expected to address growing concerns about health and hygiene conditions in detention centers. Administrative processes for these visits are already underway.
However, the movement expressed deep concern over the continued detention of minors, many of whom are being treated as adults in what SUFC described as “abusive and unlawful” conditions.
In a strong statement, Stand Up For Cameroon condemned the arrests as procedurally illegal, denouncing widespread reports of violence and torture during arrests and in police and gendarmerie custody.
“Stand Up For Cameroon demands the immediate release of all political prisoners,” the statement declared, applauding the efforts of lawyers, doctors, activists, and citizens rallying in defense of fundamental rights and freedoms.
The post-election period has seen a surge in arrests and repression after opposition candidate Issa Tchiroma Bakary, backed by the Union pour le Changement 2025, rejected official election results, claiming victory over the ruling party. The government’s crackdown on demonstrators and dissenting voices has triggered widespread concern from human rights groups and the Cameroonian diaspora.
As legal aid groups, civil movements, and opposition coalitions continue documenting cases of detention, the situation underscores the growing demand for justice, transparency, and political accountability in Cameroon’s post-election landscape.
