What You Need to Know
Cameroonian authorities have released Professor Jean Calvin Abo Ayono, a prominent supporter of opposition leader Issa Tchero Bakari, after over a month in detention. Meanwhile, Jockam Chamini has been ordered to remain in Kondengui prison as legal proceedings continue against him. Both faced similar charges of rebellion and insurrection.
Africa. Cameroonian authorities have released Professor Jean Calvin Abo Ayono, one of the prominent supporters of Issa Tchero Bakari, after more than a month in detention at the Ministry of Defense following his arrest the day after the presidential elections held in October 2025. Abo Ayono returned home to Yaoundé after a military investigating judge ruled that the evidence against him was insufficient.
In contrast, the investigating judge ordered the detention of Jockam Chamini—who was arrested on the same day as the late opposition figure Anisette Ikani—in Kondengui prison, where legal proceedings against him will continue. Both Abo Ayono and Chamini faced the same charges: “rebellion,” “insurrection,” and “hostility to the nation,” but their fates diverged in military court.
Their lawyer, Emmanuel Sime, welcomed the release of Professor Abo Ayono but deemed it a “partial success,” asserting that both clients should have been released together. He also condemned the lengthy detention period before their appearance before the investigating judge, describing it as “illegal.”
Meanwhile, Minister of Territorial Administration Paul Atanga Nji sparked a new wave of controversy after his media appearance on Friday evening on PRC TV, the presidential office’s channel, where he detailed the circumstances surrounding the death of opposition leader Anisette Ikani during his detention about a week ago.
The minister insisted that the late leader’s health condition does not absolve him of criminal responsibility for the actions attributed to him during the electoral process, asserting that the medical care he received was “ideal.” Despite the wave of public sympathy following his death, Atanga Nji stated that Ikani “is neither a hero nor a martyr.”
Cameroon has a history of political unrest, particularly surrounding elections. The recent presidential elections in October 2025 have intensified tensions, leading to arrests of opposition figures. The detention of Abo Ayono and Chamini reflects ongoing struggles between the government and opposition parties, highlighting issues of political freedom and human rights in the country.
The death of opposition leader Anisette Ikani during detention has further fueled public outcry and debate about the treatment of political prisoners in Cameroon. The government’s response to these events has been scrutinized, raising questions about accountability and the rule of law in the nation.
