France, Sept. 22 -- Cameroon on Monday is marking ​​five years since protests organised by the Cameroon Renaissance Movement (MRC) were violently repressed by the authorities.More than 500 people were arbitrarily arrested, 36 of whom remain in jail. As the country gears up for presidential elections, human rights group Amnesty International is calling for their release.

On 22 September 2020, the opposition party had called for peaceful demonstrations to promote national dialogue, reform of the electoral system, and an end to the conflict in the English-speaking regions.

However, 36 opposition supporters remain in detention in Kondengui prison in Yaounde, after being sentenced by a military court to between five and seven yea...