Southern Cameroons Crisis: Leader and 54 others released ⁰

55 Southern Cameroonians arrested and tried in connection with the violence linked to the Anglophone crisis have regained their freedom after a decree signed by President Biya halting all legal proceedings. 24 others whose proceedings are still pending before the military court in Yaoundé including BBC Mancho are still in detention. Their fate will be known at the next hearings.

Cameroon Concord News understands the decree excluded from the list of beneficiaries, defendants prosecuted for murder, destruction of national emblems including the flag and the authors calling for secession. The so-called Cameroon government spokesman, Issa Tchiroma hinted that the decision taken by President Paul Biya is “in conformity with the provisions of article 13 paragraph 4 of law n ° 2017/012 of July 12, 2017 establishing a code of military justice.”

According to this law, the President of the Republic may at any time before a judgement is pronounced, prescribe a criminal prosecution before the military court. Issa Tchiroma also said it is not a question of “interference by the executive, nor of an interference with the independence of the judiciary, but of a mere application of the law in Cameroon. The President Paul Biya decree which sounded the return to social cohesion, was greeted by António Guterres, the UN Secretary-General.

By Sama Ernest
Cameroon Concord News