Buea, May 20, 2022. Yesterday evening, May 19th, 2022, our colleagues Marguerite and Ashu were provisionally released from prison after being detained on the 27th of December 2021, while they were in the process of transferring a wounded patient by ambulance in the South West region of Cameroon.
We are relieved that they regained their freedom and will be reunited with their families. We hope that this freedom will be indefinite and that the ongoing judicial procedures exonerates them fully from any wrongdoing.
We reiterate that our colleagues and MSF followed the operating and notification procedures established with the authorities for the transfer of this patient last December 26th, 2021.
Two other colleagues remain in detention, and we hope, as MSF, for a similar resolution of their cases. We are also convinced in the legality of the tasks they performed for the medical organization.
MSF and all our staff are guided by medical ethics and the principles of impartiality, independence and neutrality.
We appreciate the support of all those who have contributed to the release of our colleagues. MSF remains available to continue the dialogue with the authorities to resolve this issue as soon as possible, so that we can resume our medical-humanitarian activities.