Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his counterpart in Cameroon on the recent sentencing of 26 people for illegal gathering and demonstration in that country; and what assessment he has made of whether those convictions are consistent with the terms of the Commonwealth Charter.

​The UK remains deeply concerned about the arrest, detention and sentencing of political actors, including the sentencing of 26 opposition supporters on 24 March, arrested during the 26 January protests. On 21 March, the UK and Austria made a joint statement at the UN Human Rights Council on the human rights situation in Cameroon, including a call for timely, fair trial or release of political detainees. On 13 February I underlined that trials, including of Opposition leader Maurice Kamto, must follow due process, and that freedom of speech and political expression are integral to a democratic society. We encourage all Commonwealth member states to adhere to the values in the Commonwealth Charter, including the protection and promotion of civil, political economic social and cultural rights, and the inalienable right of individuals to participate in democratic processes. Officials are in regular contact with the Commonwealth Secretariat and member states to discuss these issues.