Douala, Cameroon – Dorgelesse Nguessan, a single mother and hairdresser, has been released from prison after spending more than four years in arbitrary detention. Nguessan was arrested in September 2020 for participating in a peaceful protest organized by the opposition party ‘Movement for the Renaissance of Cameroon’ (MRC) against the worsening economic conditions in the country.
The 39-year-old was detained along with over 500 other individuals during the protests in several cities, including Douala. Nguessan, who had no prior political involvement, joined the demonstration as a concerned citizen, deeply troubled by the state of Cameroon’s economy. Her participation led to charges of “insurrection” and “public demonstrations,” and she was sentenced to five years in prison by a military court on December 7, 2021. However, her sentence was reduced on January 16, 2025, by the Court of Appeal after several referrals, and she was finally released.
Amnesty International, which had campaigned for her release since January 2022, welcomed the news. Marceau Sivieude, Amnesty International’s interim Regional Director for West and Central Africa, issued a statement celebrating her release but stressed that it should never have occurred in the first place.
“Dorgelesse Nguessan is finally free. She can now join her loved ones after more than four years in arbitrary detention solely for peacefully exercising her human rights. While this is a day to celebrate, Dorgelesse Nguessan should never have been detained in the first place,” Sivieude said.
Amnesty International has continued to call for the release of the remaining 38 individuals who were arrested in connection with the September 2020 protests and are still being held in arbitrary detention. Sivieude emphasized the need for the Cameroonian authorities to uphold the human rights of all individuals, including the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and association.
“Of the protesters arrested in 2020, 38 remain in arbitrary detention. The Cameroonian authorities must immediately release them. This travesty of justice must end,” Sivieude added.
Nguessan’s release comes as a significant victory for human rights activists, with Amnesty International supporters around the world rallying for her freedom through campaigns, including the 2022 Write for Rights initiative, which featured her case. Despite her release, activists remain focused on ensuring the broader protection of civil rights and freedoms in Cameroon, especially in light of the ongoing suppression of political opposition and public dissent in the country.
