Cameroon has provisionally released Junior Ngombe, a 23-year-old activist and hairdresser, who was imprisoned after posting videos on TikTok advocating for democratic change ahead of the 2025 presidential elections. His lawyer, Serge Emmanuel Chendjou, confirmed the release on Wednesday.
Ngombe was arrested on July 24 outside his shop in Douala by men claiming to be intelligence officers, as reported by Human Rights Watch. He faced charges of “incitement to rebellion” and “propagation of false information,” which his lawyers believe are connected to his social media posts.
In his TikTok videos, Ngombe urged citizens to vote in the upcoming presidential election and criticized the government’s crackdown on dissent. “In 2025, either we win, or we lose everything,” he said, calling on authorities to “let the youth express themselves” in Cameroon.
Ngombe’s arrest sparked an outcry from civil society and opposition figures, who campaigned for his release using the hashtag #FreeJuniorNgombe. His case drew attention to what international human rights groups describe as a growing suppression of free expression under President Paul Biya, who has been in power for 42 years.
Biya, 91, and his government have faced accusations of repressing opposition voices, particularly since his re-election in 2018 following a contested vote. The government, however, has condemned the increase in “insulting remarks against the institutions and those who embody them” as the election approaches.
Human Rights Watch had previously warned of measures in Cameroon aimed at limiting freedom of expression, a concern underscored by Ngombe’s arrest and subsequent charges.
The provisional release was granted by the government commissioner at the Yaoundé military court, where Junior Ngombe was on trial. His lawyer highlighted that the release was conditional, pending further developments in the case.