Title: The need to release prisoners of conscience in Cameroon: a voice that is raised
As Cameroon prepares for the presidential elections which will take place in twenty months, an urgent appeal comes from the executive director of the Network of Human Rights Defenders in Central Africa, Maximilienne Ngo Mbe. She pleads for the release of the 41 activists from Maurice Kamto’s opposition party, currently incarcerated. But beyond these 41 activists, other emblematic cases such as that of the former secretary general of the presidency, Marafa Hamidou Yaya, are attracting attention.
It is in this context that a wave of protests emerged, demanding the release of prisoners of conscience in Cameroon. These voices, here and there, demand justice and respect for the fundamental rights of each individual. Civil society, human rights organizations and even international politicians speak with one voice: freedom for those who have been imprisoned for their divergent political views.
A significant act of solidarity recently took place when former French President François Hollande sent a letter to Cameroonian President Paul Biya regarding the case of Marafa Hamidou Yaya. This intervention illustrates the importance of international pressure to encourage respect for human rights and the release of prisoners of conscience.
Beyond political issues, it is above all a matter of defending democratic values and individual freedoms. The release of these prisoners of conscience should not be seen as a concession, but as a moral and legal imperative.
In a world where freedom of expression is a pillar of democracy, it is essential to make those voices heard who demand justice and dignity for all. Freeing prisoners of conscience is not only a duty, it is a necessity to preserve social peace and respect for human rights in Cameroon.
Faced with this picture, citizen and international mobilization in favor of the release of prisoners of conscience in Cameroon continues to grow. It is time to place justice and human rights at the heart of the political debate, for a more just and inclusive Cameroon.