Why Titus Edzoa & Thierry Atangana were freed!

A presidential decree signed on 18 February 2014 commuted the prison sentences of some inmates and granted freedom to others.

By Ncheke Morine in Yaounde

At long last and after sustained pressure from national and international circles, the former SGPR and his alleged partner in crime, Michel Thierry Atangana, have regained their freedom.
    Titus Edzoa and Thierry Atangana had stayed in prison since 1997 when they were arrested and detained at the SED in Yaounde.

    Edzoa and his young friend were charged with embezzlement of state funds and sentenced to 15 years in prison. But after serving the 15 years, they were again charged for the same offence and sentenced to another 20 years. This sparked huge criticism both a home and abroad. The French government especially described the new sentence against their compatriot, Thierry Atangana, as unjust and unacceptable. Other Human Rights agencies queued up and chastised the Cameroon government of trampling on the human rights of its citizens.

Titus Edzoa

Thierry Atangana

    The presidential remission and commutations came on the heels of renewed pressure from the international community notably the UN commission on Human Rights and the French government, urging the Cameroon government to drop the charges against Titus Edzoa, Thierry Atangana and several others.