Anti-riot police and gendarmerie officers have taken up strategic positions in Douala and Yaoundé to « receive » supporters of the Cameroon Renaissance Movement (MRC) who planned an anti-regime protest today Saturday, June 8, 2019.
With water cannons, pickups, batons, and teargas among other gears used to disperse protests, the security presence seems to be a deterrent to today’s protest for the release of MRC National President, Maurice Kamto and his allies and members.
In Douala water canons have been planted at Round Point Darker and the Ndokoti Road Junction in Douala lll Subdivision.
Police and Gendarmerie pickups are also planted at Mobile Bonakouamouang in Akwa, Bonaberi, Grand Moulin Deido and other strategic places across the city to entertain those who will dare take to the streets today.
In Yaoundé, key riot-prone environments have the intimidating presence of security officers in combat gear. The security dispositions taken at Post Central Roundabout in Yaounde is come-and-see, go-and-tell.
Since the arrest of the First Vice President of the MRC, Mamadou Mota during the protests of June 1, 2019, the Second Vice President, Tiriane Nadege Noah is expected to lead today’s protests.
The MRC interim President who hails from Mefou and Akono Division in the Centre region is expected to ramp up efforts for the release of MRC members and allies detained since January 2019.
About 350 members of the MRC including its First Vice President were arrested during last Saturday’s nationwide protests.
Maurice Kamto officially emerged second in last year’s presidential election but has since claimed victory. His MRC party has since held several protests at home and abroad against « an electoral hold up and calls for sweeping electoral reforms ».
The Minister of Territorial Administration, Atanga Nji Paul during a visit to Douala on Thursday sounded the final warning to anyone who will be caught taking part in any illegal protest.
He said the MRC is a bad loser of the October 7, 2018 presidential election in Cameroon and must desist from jeopardizing the peace of the country.
Human Rights Watch, an international human rights whistle-blower has condemned Cameroon for clamping down on peaceful protests.
