Credit: wikipedia / Cameroonian embassy in Paris, France was occupied by anti-Biya prostesters Jan.  27, 2019

By Gary Raynaldo

The government of west-central Africa nation Cameroon rebuked France and Germany for failing to protect its embassies in Paris and Berlin from violent protests over the weekend. Opposition to Cameroon President Paul Biya’s regime took on a bold dimension Sunday in several European capitals. Cameroonians occupied the embassies of their country in Paris and Berlin to support protests in their home land. Some 50 protesters opposed to President Biya broke into the country’s Paris embassy, vandalising portraits of him, witnesses said on Sunday.

Credit: thelocal.fr /  PrinceNfor Hanson N /  Protesters invade Cameroon embassy in Paris Jan. 27, 2019

Cameroon said it summoned French and German envoys to “receive a strong protest from the Government of Cameroon.”   In a statement issued Tuesday by  Cameroon’s Communication Minister and government spokesman Rene Emmanuel, the government condemned the assault on its foreign embassies it blamed on leaders and militants of the Cameroon Renaissance Movement (CRM):

“…militants of this party stormed certain diplomatic missions of Cameroon abroad, notably, in Paris and Berlin, ransacking everything in their path, causing significant material damage within these Embassies, including the destruction of symbols of the State, effigies of the President of the Republic, passports and various civil status records of Cameroonians.”        

Cameroon’s Communication Minister and spokesman Rene Emmanuel

The Government of Cameroon stated that it further “deplores” the fact that Cameroon, for its part, has always fulfilled its duty to protect the premises of the diplomatic missions present  in its territory, and in accordance with principle of reciprocity, expects in return that the friendly countries should in their turn ensure the same treatment to its diplomatic missions that they host on their soil.

On Sunday, French police  forced the protesters out of the Paris diplomatic building two hours later and onto the street, where they continued their protest outside the embassy, according to media reports.  A small group of protesters also briefly occupied Cameroon’s embassy in Berlin and caused minor damage inside the building, German police said. About 10 people forced their way into the embassy of the central African nation in the early hours of Sunday and made political demands.

Opposition Grows As 85-Year Old Paul Biya Sworn In As Cameroon’s President For Seventh Time

Credit:  dw.com /Patrick Kovarick /AFP/Getty / Cameroon President Paul Biya 

The recent protests and violence at Cameroon’s diplomatic missions in Europe stem from anger over last October’s presidential election.  Biya, an octogenarian who has ruled Cameroon for 36 years, was  sworn in as the Central African country’s  President for a seventh term in November 2018. The opposition accused  elections of being rigged in favor of Biya.  The 85-year-old Biya was officially declared the  winner of the  elections on October 22. The polls were stained by low turnout and voter intimidation. Biya, who  is sub-Saharan Africa’s oldest president, garnered 71.3 percent of the  vote.  Opposition challenger Maurice Kamto came in a distant second with 14.2 of vote.

Opposition Supporters Refuse To Accept Biya As Cameroon President

“Despite the smooth conduct of the October 7, 2018 presidential poll, leaders and militants of the political party called “Cameroon Renaissance Movement” …”CRM”,  have in an uprising attitude, made recurring calls inviting Cameroonians to take to the streets to contest the election results.”   

Cameroon’s Communication Minister and spokesman Rene Emmanuel

Republic Of Cameroon Vows To Hold Those Responsible for violence at its Paris and Berlin Missions 

“Moreover, considering the seriousness of the acts perpetrated, the Government  will take all necessary measures in Cameroon and abroad, against the sponsors and others responsible for these assaults, to be held accountable for their actions before competent courts,” Rene Emmanuel.

Cameroon arrests opposition leader who claims he won 2018 election

Credit: DWTV. com AFP getty /   Cameroon opposition leader Maurice Kamto and other MRC opposition figures have been arrested over protests challenging October’s election.

Maruice Kamto, the leader of the Cameroon Renaissance Movement (MRC), was arrested Monday night at another politician’s home in the country’s economic capital Douala following weekend protests against President Paul Biya, DWTV reported.