Cameroon probes Kamto for 'plan to trigger insurrection

Police in Cameroon are expected to begin an investigation into allegations that opposition leader Maurice Kamto wanted to cause an insurrection in the central African country, one of the politician's lawyers has told the BBC.

“A group of Mr Kamto’s lawyers went to the National Delegation of Public Security and to the National Gendarmerie to find out why he is being held under house arrest.

"We were told that an investigation will be opened on him in the coming days on grounds that he tried to cause an insurrection,” said Barrister Christopher Ndong.

A spokesperson for the police declined a BBC request for comment.

Mr Kamto had called for peaceful protests on 22 September to push for electoral reforms, a resolution of the ongoing crisis in the Anglophone regions, and the resignation of long-time President Paul Biya.

But he could not lead the march because the security services put him under house arrest, and he has since not been allowed out of his home.

Mr Ndong says that 600 supporters of Mr Kamto’s Cameroon Renaissance Movement were arrested, but the BBC has not been able to independently verify the figure.