The main opposition leader in Cameroon, Prof. Maurice Kamto, has said an assassination attempt was made at his life in the afternoon of 13 March 2020 in the city of Garoua. Kamto, who is President of the Cameroon Renaissance Movement (CRM), and some of his party members were en route to Maroua when the said attempted assassination took place.
According to a statement issued by the CRM, Kamto’s bodyguards noticed two men onboard a motorcycle trailing their convoy at close range as a huge crowd turned out to welcome them while on transit in Garoua.
“The motorcycle got closer and closer to President Kamto’s vehicle, near the rear window on the side of the President-elect’s seat. The bodyguard noticed that he [suspect assassin] sent his hand under his T-shirt where the weapon was found and the bodyguard then raised a loud alarm,” the CRM release reads. CRM officials said the motorcycle used by the presumed assassins was overturned by a speed bump. It was then the security detail laid hands on the gendarmerie officer, who was in civilian attire, and disarmed him of his pistol.
The suspect assassin and the confiscated firearm were handed over to security forces at the North governor’s office. It was confirmed by North Region authorities that the gendarme is effectively serving in the jurisdiction. But the government is yet to officially comment on the incident.
Prof. Alain Fogue, a top CRM party official expressed concern over their safety. He called on the government to thoroughly investigate the assassination attempt and make findings public.
Kamto and his key supporters regained freedom in October 2019, after spending nine months in jail. They were standing trial at the Yaounde military tribunal for complicity in destruction, hostility to the state, insurrection and rebellion.
In 2018, Kamto challenged President Paul Biya, who has been in power since 1982, at the polls. But Biya swept 71.28% of the votes to extend his rule to 2025, leaving Kamto at the second position with 14.23% votes. Kamto and the CRM contested the results on grounds that the election was marred by gross irregularities.
CRM, Kamto and supporters then organized several protests across the country against “electoral hold up.” Some of the protests were quelled by security forces using water cannons, teargas and rubber bullets which left protesters with wounds. At least 117 people were arrested and charged for “disrupting public order and perpetrating various assaults.” Kamto and his close allies, including Albert Dzongang, Celestine Djamen, Christian Penda Ekoka, and Paul Eric Kingue, were also arrested.
They were later freed following a presidential pardon seen as a national reconciliation move but which later turned out to be external pressure from France.
