After 20 months in detention: MRC VP, Mamadou Mota Gets Hero’s Welcome In Maroua, Tokombere

The First Vice President of opposition Cameroon Renaissance Movement (CRM) party was over the weekend given a hero’s welcome in his native Far North region in general and in Tomkombere where he hails in particular. 

The opposition politician who has spent 20 months at the Yaounde maximum security prison in Kondengui was released 5 February 2021. He was accompanied back home by the CRM Party President Prof. Maurice Kamto and a host of other party dignitaries.

Hundreds of Maroua inhabitants turned out to welcome the CRM party delegation with the freed son including. The delegation made a stopover at the Lamidate of Maroua where Mota was welcomed. Kamto used the warm reception accorded to score political points. 

“I told you that I would come back to Maroua with Vice-President Mamadou Mota. And I just made my promise. I told you that I would not betray you,” said Kamto the huge crowd while stating that his release warns the heart of all at the party as they continue to fight for the release of others. 

“It is a joy that we cannot hide. Even though this joy leaves us with a feeling of bitterness because he is released from prison, leaving behind him many other comrades and political friends of the Cameroon Renaissance Movement. But, he is there, and I think we have reason to be happy about it,” Kamto said.

Mota used the occasion to appreciate the support he got from his family, friends and party comrades during the 20 month detention. He said he will continue to fight the course he has started despite attempts by the regime to muzzle down. He told the crowd that the fight is for the good of Cameroonian citizens and will continue until the course is achieved.  

Mota was arrested June 2019 for organising an unauthorised march to claim the victory of Maurice Kamto during the October 2018 Presidential election. After a mutiny broke at the Kondengui Central prison in July 22, 2019, Mamadou Mato was found guilty of group rebellion, theft, group destruction, escape attempts and injuries inflicted on detainees. 

He was therefore sentenced to a two-year jail term by the Yaounde Court of first instance. However,  his sentence was later reduced  to 18 months on October 29  by the Yaounde Court of Appeal after he was found not guilty of four charges, excluding, group rebellion.