Norwegian citizen arrested over alleged involvement in Cameroon armed conflict

The case is under update. A Norwegian citizen with a background from Cameroon has been arrested by Norwegian police. According to a statement from the National Criminal Investigation Service (Kripos), the man was taken into custody yesterday during a planned operation.

“We are in the early stages of the investigation, and there are several investigative steps remaining,” said Anette Berger, the prosecutor in the case. Kripos believes the suspect plays a central role in an ongoing armed conflict in Cameroon. He will be held in pre-trial detention due to concerns about potential evidence tampering.

“Norway has an international responsibility to ensure that we are not a safe haven for individuals committing war crimes or crimes against humanity,” Berger added. She also noted that this is the first time someone in Norway has been charged with incitement to crimes against humanity.

The man’s lawyer, Morten Engesbakk, commented on the arrest in a text message: “My client does not admit to any criminal wrongdoing and opposes pre-trial detention. He believes the charges are based on a misunderstanding regarding both the situation in Cameroon and his role in the matter. He is cooperating with the police to clarify the case,” Engesbakk stated.