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Abstract

In October 2011, writer and political activist Enoh Meyomesse unsuccessfully ran for the presidency of Cameroon. A month later, while Meyomesse was abroad, gendarmes broke into his home without a warrant and confiscated documents, photographs and other personal property. On returning to Cameroon in November 2011, Meyomesse was arrested and charged with attempting to organise a coup, possessing a firearm and aggravated theft. He vehemently denied all charges, maintaining that he had been arrested because of views expressed in his writings and for his political activism. In late January 2012, the coup charges against the writer were dropped; and in the intervening months the other charges against Meyomesse began to crumble. By June 2012 no charges remained. Despite this, a judge ordered an extension of his detention, ostensibly to allow the prosecutor to search for evidence against him. Throughout his time in jail, Meyomesse has continued to write prolifically, and in November 2012 self published a powerful collection of poetry, Poeme carceral: Poesie du penitencier de Kondengui. Adapted from the source document.