A military tribunal in Cameroon has refused bail for two prominent civil society leaders accused of orchestrating violent unrest in the country’s English-speaking regions, the Northwest and Southwest. The two, Barrister Felix Nkongho Agbor Balla and Fontem Neba, are among more than two dozen people still detained in connection with the strike, now entering its seventh month. Calls for their release continue to fuel protests and remain a major barrier to dialogue between the government and strike organizers.
The unrest has led to a series of violent incidents, including attacks on students and arson targeting businesses and government buildings. One notable incident involved 17-year-old Chatelle Anyerre, who was attacked with a machete while walking to school, reportedly for defying the strike’s school boycott. Surgeons have confirmed her injuries are serious but stable.
Authorities have linked recent arson attacks to the strike, with businesses suspected of violating protest shutdown days being targeted. A hotel in Bamenda, the Northwest capital, caught fire last week, prompting an investigation.
During the court proceedings in Yaoundé, presided over by Chief Judge Colonel Abega Mbezoa Eko Eko, the prosecution argued that those charged with terrorism-related offenses, which carry possible death sentences, cannot be granted bail. Despite a prior ruling on May 30 suggesting “controlled freedom” might be possible, no release was granted. Defense lawyers were barred from speaking to the media, and the judge did not take questions after the hearing.
The strike began in November with anglophone teachers and lawyers protesting perceived marginalization in Cameroon’s bilingual system. While initially seeking reforms, the movement has increasingly been influenced by secessionist groups calling for independence, prompting a harsh government crackdown. Lawmakers have expressed concern that the ongoing unrest is damaging critical infrastructure and harming efforts to maintain essential public services, including education.
