In a release dated October 9, 2019 attributable to the SDF Centre Regional Chairman Emmanuel Ntonga, the party says it will not exclude any action after the 48-hour deadline to secure the release of Paddy Asanga.

The press release states that Paddy Asanga is the Regional Secretary for Communication of the Germany Electoral District of the SDF. He was among the Diaspora delegates to the Major National Dialogue that took place at the Yaoundé Conference Centre from September 30 to October 4 to find solutions to the Anglophone Crisis.

The pro-Federalism activist is said to have been arrested at the Yaoundé Central Prison in the Kondengui neighbourhood as he took souvenir pictures with some detainees. It is alleged that he is currently detained at the State Defense Secretariat – Secrétariat d'État à la Défense, SED.

“The SDF Centre just received information about the arrest of Comrade Paddy Asanga, Regional Secretary for Communication of the Germany Electoral District of the SDF and guest of the President of the Republic at the Major National Dialogue. He should certainly be detained at SED in the Centre Region.

“The SDF Centre demands the unconditional and immediate release of its comrade who contributed greatly to the Major National Dialogue and who receives as gratitude an arbitrary arrest. The SDF Centre will exclude no action in the next 48 hours to obtain his release,” the press release attributable to the Centre Regional Chairman of the SDF reads.

Jean Robert Wanko, Regional Chairman of the SDF in Germany writes in a separate dispatch that they held an emergency meeting in Berlin Wednesday to demand the immediate and unconditional release of Paddy Asanga.

Wanko writes that Paddy Asanga was actually the representative of SDF Germany at the recent Major National Dialogue and does not understand why he was arrested in Yaoundé. The party in Germany goes on to reiterate its total support to its comrade, Paddy Asanga.

Cameroon-info.net recalls that the Prime Minister, Head of Government Chief Dr. Dion Ngute Joseph, Chairman of the Major National Dialogue had on September 24, 2019 assured Human Rights Lawyer Nkongho Felix Agbor Balla that no activist who comes to Cameroon for the Major National Dialogue will be arrested. The PM is quoted as saying that it will be against the African tradition for one to arrest his guest.

After the audience with the PM, Agbor Balla said: “The PM explained in a very typical professorial manner and like the politician that he is that in the African tradition, you don’t invite somebody in the house and you arrest them. These were things that were reassuring because some of us are in the frontline. We talk to our friends who are in the separatist movement, we talk to those who believe in federation and we talk to those who have apathy with regards to the process.  So, at least, we can be able to explain to them that I came, I saw and to be honest, I think we should give dialogue a chance.”

Later on September 27, George Ewane, Spokesperson of the Major National Dialogue said: “I give you my word that no secessionist invited to the Major National Dialogue will be arrested.”

It remains to be seen what will be the fate of Paddy Asanga who travelled from Hamburg in Germany to attend the Major National Dialogue.