Post-Election Protest:

Police Open Fire on Kamto’s Supporters in Douala

-Two prominent opposition figures, Celestin Djamen and Lawyer Michelle Ndoki rushed to hospital with bullet wounds

-Protesters also dispersed with tear gas in Yaounde, Bafoussam and Mbouda

-Protesters storm Cameroon Embassies in France, Germany and Belgium

Barrister Michelle Ndoki was shot on the leg during the protests

Two frontline opposition figures, Celestin Djamen and Lawyer Michelle Ndoki were shot by police as they led a protest demonstration in Makepe, Douala II. They were immediately rushed to hospital where they are receiving treatment for the bullet wounds they incurred. Their lives are not threatened, we learned.

                Meanwhile, the leader of the Cameroon Renaissance Movement, Prof Maurice Kamto has to his supporters he ready to make sacrifices to bring about change in Cameroon. He was speaking Saturday morning at the Ndokoti neighborhood, in Douala III Subdivision, after members of his party were brutalised and maimed by the anti-riot Police, as they were staging a protest demonstration in the area.

                “The time is now or never. We have to sacrifice for you,” Kamto said.

                “Tell all those who are still at home to come out; tell your parents to come out. I am a parent and I am here,” Prof Kamto commanded.

                “There is no turning back. This is just the beginning of justice in our country,” he said.

                The peaceful protest saw over 1000 members of CRM marching in the streets. They were protesting against what they considered as electoral hold-up and bad governance by the regime of President Paul Biya.

                Social media images showed protesters being teargased by anti-riot police and gendarmes. The protesters in their thousands were beaten and some wounded. Many were arrested, according a government statement.

                CRM militants were seen carrying placards denouncing electoral fraud, military violence in the two Anglophone regions and corruption in the country.

                We received report that the police watched Prof Kamto talk at Ndokoti without touching him. Maurice Kamto declared himself the winner of the 7th of October 2018 presidential elections. He says he will fight to the end to secure his “stolen victory”.

                Protest marches were also staged in the towns of Yaounde, Bafoussam and Mbouda. Riot Police dispersed the crowds in all these towns. Many were arrested and dumped in police cells, while some in Douala were simply rounded up and driven to their party headquarters.

                Reacting to the protests in Yaounde, Douala, Bafoussam and Mbouda, the minister of Communication, Rene Sadi, and the the minister of territorial administration, AtangaNji, called a late night press conference in Yaounde, during which they condemned the protest in very strong terms.

                Rene Sadi noted that in Yaounde, Bafoussam and Mbouda, several protesters caught in flagrante delicto disrupting public order, were arrested and put in custody. He said 62 persons were arrested in Yaounde, while 42 were rounded up in Bafoussam. 13 were arrested in Mbouda.

                The minister said in Douala where the protesters took upon themselves to face and challenge the riot police, the police were forced to go against their restraint and professionalism. This resulted in clashes leading to six persons incurring bullet wounds, while others were arrested and taken to the CRM headquarters.

                Minister Rene Sadi also admitted that hundreds of protesters attacked the Cameroon Embassy in Paris, France, ransacking the offices and causing huge damage to property.

                Rene Sadi seized the opportunity to call for a sense of patriotism, responsibility and restraint by Cameroonians wherever they find themselves. He urged the youth not to yield to manipulation by political leaders.

                Meanwhile, the Minadt, AtangaNji has warned political party leaders to respect the laws of the republic, stating that the laws shall be applied without discrimination on any persons who disrupt public order. He said the government will do all it takes to ensure that peace, national unity and living together are preserved in the country.

                It should be noted that Prof. Kamto cannot travel out of the country as government has refused to renew his passport. But he has vowed to disrupt the country until his claim to victory is granted.