Six opposition activists have been arrested in Cameroon for distributing face masks and disinfectant gel, their lawyers and Human Rights Watch said Friday.

Cameroon's government has banned an initiative by Kamto to collect funds to fight the novel coronavirus, ordering banks to close its accounts and freeze the money.

Hippolyte Meli, one of the lawyers for the six detainees, told AFP that they were being held for "the illegal distribution of masks and hydroalcoholic gel."

"Earlier in May, the health minister rejected a donation by Kamto's initiative of 16,000 protective and surgical masks and 950 Covid-19 screening tests, claiming the initiative had not been legally established," the rights monitor said.

"Distributing free masks to those who need them is not rebellion and it certainly should not land people in jail.