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Cameroon Opposition Says Supporters Arrested for Campaigning for Boycott

Moki Edwin Kindzeka

   YAOUNDE, CAMEROON - Several supporters of Maurice Kamto, the
   Cameroonian opposition leader who claims he won the October 2018
   presidential election and that long-serving President Paul Biya stole
   his victory, have been arrested for campaigning for a total boycott of
   Sunday's local and parliamentary elections. The Cameroon Peoples Party
   is also calling for a total boycott. Both parties say the political
   crisis that has killed at least 3,000 people in the English-speaking
   regions should be solved and electoral laws reviewed before any polls.

   Moise Andzomo, spokesman for the opposition Cameroon Renaissance
   Movement, CRM, party in Cameroon's capital, Yaounde, says 11 of its
   supporters were arrested Friday morning by heavily armed police in the
   western town of Mbouda for campaigning for a total boycott of the
   February 9 local and parliamentary elections.

   He says in spite of the arrest and detention of their supporters, his
   party is calling on all Cameroonians who love their country and love
   social justice to stay home February 9 and not participate in the
   elections. He says the ruling Cameroon People's Democratic Movement
   party is not ready to leave power and its leader, Paul Biya has
   prepared electoral laws that can never allow for free and fair
   elections.

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