Dorgelesse Nguessan is finally free! She was released in January after more than four years in detention in Cameroon solely for peacefully exercising her human rights.
Dorgelesse was arrested in September 2020 at her first ever protest which she attended because she was concerned about Cameroon’s economy. A hairdresser and single mother, she was charged with “insurrection” and then sentenced to five years in prison. In January 2025, the Court of Appeal reduced her sentence.
Dorgelesse’s case was featured in Amnesty’s 2022 Write for Rights campaign and her family received relief support from Amnesty International during her detention. Many Amnesty supporters may also recall receiving an appeal about Dorgelesse’s case a few months ago. Although Dorgelesse is now reunited with her loved ones, other people are still being unjustly detained, and Amnesty is calling on the Cameroonian authorities to release them all immediately.
