Cameroonian researcher arrested in the Far North

A Cameroonian researcher and former student leader was arrested on September 6 in the Far North of Cameroon, an association of Cameroonian students demanding for his release said.

Claude Linjuom Mbowou, a PhD student at the University of Paris 1, “was arrested on September 6 at the entrance of Ngaoundéré, capital of the Adamawa (North) Region, noted a statement by the Association for the Defense of the Rights of the Students of Cameroon (Addec), the largest student organization of Cameroon.

Former Vice President and founder of Addec, Mr. Mbowou, was arrested while returning to Yaoundé after having stayed in the Far North Region “for a study project with the program from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Africa Office,” said the press release.

According to the text, he was said "to have visited an area not secured and without an escort."

Addec called for the release of Mr. Mbowou, noting in its statement that he had only stayed for "20 days" in Maroua, the capital of the region, where he had also met with the regional authorities, including the Governor.

Known in Cameroon for his actions in defense of the rights of students, Mr. Mbowou has stayed in France for some years where he is working on a thesis at the University of Paris 1, according to the Addec which specified that he also teaches.

His arrest was widely spread on social networks by fellow students, who are demanding for his release.

The Extreme-North of Cameroon has, over the past two years, been the target of regular attacks by the Nigerian Islamist group, Boko Haram. Since July, nine suicide bombings have been committed there, causing the death of around 100 people.

The Cameroonian army has significantly increased its workforce in the region, border in northeastern Nigeria, and movements of journalists and researchers there are now very controlled.