Pre-electoral litigations: Security heightens as hearings unfold in Yaoundé, CRM says dozens of supporters arrested

By Synthia Lateu

As the Constitutional Council began hearings on the 35 presidential hopefuls whose candidacies were rejected by ELECAM for the upcoming October elections, a noticeable increase in security presence was observed in key areas of Yaoundé and Douala.

Throughout August 4, heavily armed police and gendarmerie patrols were seen across major neighborhoods in both cities. There was no official explanation for the heightened security, but gendarmerie pickups, national police vehicles, and officers in full riot gear were stationed at strategic points.

At the Yaoundé Conference Centre, where the hearings are taking place, access was heavily restricted. Outside the hearing room, security forces conducted strict checks. Many young Cameroonians were denied entry, leading to frustration at both the main and secondary entrances. The tension escalated when security forces dispersed the crowd using tear gas, followed by multiple arrests. Videos circulated online showing protesters chanting and demanding fair deliberations.

In a statement released later in the day, Mamadou Mota, Acting President of the Cameroon Renaissance Movement (CRM), strongly condemned the arrests of a dozen of his supporters calling them arbitrary.

“This brutal and inhumane repression is a blatant violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms,” he declared.
Mota emphasized that the role of the police is to protect citizens, not to target them.
“Hearings at the Constitutional Council are public, and citizens have the right to attend and protest peacefully,” he added, demanding the immediate and unconditional release of all detained CRM supporters.

“We will not be intimidated by these repressive methods. We will continue to fight for democracy and freedom in Cameroon.” Mota went on.

Meanwhile, in Douala, a heavy security presence was reported from the early hours of the day particularly in areas such as Bonabéri, Ndokoti, Deïdo, and Akwa as the Yaoundé hearings commenced. Though traffic flow remained largely unaffected, the mood across the city was one of caution and anticipation. The deployment appeared to be a preventive measure to discourage spontaneous gatherings or unauthorized demonstrations.

In a related development, the Senior Divisional Officer of Mfoundi, Emmanuel Mariel Djikdent, had earlier issued a stern warning discouraging public attendance at the Constitutional Council’s pre-electoral litigation.

This directive came in the wake of a public appeal by MANIDEM president, Anicet Ekane, urging widespread attendance at the hearings, particularly in light of his party’s petition against the Ministry of Territorial Administration (MINAT) and ELECAM regarding the rejection of Maurice Kamto’s candidacy.

The hearing on MANIDEM was postponed for Tuesday when the Constitutional Council must have arrived at a verdict.

The plot twist on Monday was the discovery by Lawyers of MANIDEM of a letter sent to ELECAM by Interior Minister, Paul Atanga Nji, stating that YEBGA is the rightful leader of the party since 2021.