The Yaounde military court held its first hearing on Thursday, December 11, for dozens of Cameroonians arrested following post-election protests that rocked the country in October.
A total of 77 defendants, arrested in the capital after demonstrations erupted over the contested presidential election results, appeared before the court.
The hearing lasted less than an hour and was adjourned because of the absence of a qualified translator.
“Most of those arrested do not speak Cameroon’s official languages well; they primarily speak Hausa and, in some cases, Fulfulde,” said Maître Ndam, a member of the collective of lawyers defending those imprisoned since the crisis.
“The court will need to provide interpreters at the next hearing,” he added.
Both the defense and prosecution were instructed to submit their lists of witnesses ahead of the next session, scheduled for January 8.
The post-election crisis was triggered after the Constitutional Council proclaimed victory for Paul Biya, who has been in power for over four decades.
The result sparked widespread protests, with several thousand demonstrators taking to the streets of Douala, Yaounde, Bafoussam, Maroua and other towns.
The protest paralyzed the economic capital Douala for days and caused a spike in the prices of basic commodities.
At least 40 people were killed and more than 1,200 people arrested during police crackdown on the protests, according to official figures.
Civil society groups estimate the number of those arrested at over 2,000.
The post-election crisis has been further inflamed by the death in state custody of one of the detainees, opposition leader Anicet Ekane.
His passing on December 1 has intensified national and international calls for accountability and the release of all post-election detainees—calls the government has thus far rejected.
