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Amnesty International says Yaoundé must release 36 protesters arbitrarily detained for five years

23, September 2025

Amnesty International says Yaoundé must release 36 protesters arbitrarily detained for five years 0

The Cameroonian authorities must immediately release 36 opposition supporters arbitrarily detained for five years for exercising their right to peaceful assembly and put an end to arbitrary detention in the country, Amnesty International said on the fifth anniversary of their arrest.

On 22 September 2020, over 500 people were arbitrarily arrested for participating in peaceful protests organized by the opposition party ‘Movement for the Renaissance of Cameroon’ (MRC) in several cities across the country. Of the protesters arrested 36 remain in detention, languishing in Kondengui prison in Yaoundé after being sentenced by a military court to between five- and seven-years’ imprisonment.

“The Cameroonian authorities must immediately release these individuals, who have committed no crime other than to express their opinion,” said Marceau Sivieude, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for West and Central Africa.

We are deeply disappointed that the authorities have failed to recognize the arbitrary nature of the ongoing detention of these protesters.

“The authorities must address these concerns and ensure that no person is arbitrarily arrested or detained solely for exercising their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. The authorities must also refrain from trying civilians in military courts, as it is incompatible with the right to a fair trial and therefore in violation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.”

By the end of September, 24 of those imprisoned will have served their five-year sentences. Among them, one has suffered three strokes but has not been released on medical grounds despite their requests, according to the lawyer Hippolyte Meli Tiakouang, coordinator of a collective defending detained opposition supporters.

“Thirty-six appeals have been lodged since 2022 with the Supreme Court of Cameroon, which has not yet ruled on any of them. The delays are unreasonable. One might think that judiciary drag things out so that the sentences handed down will be carried out” said Hippolyte Meli Tiakouang.

On 4 November 2022, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention published an opinion which found that the detention of 15 of the MRC leaders and activists was arbitrary. 

“We are deeply disappointed that the authorities have failed to recognize the arbitrary nature of the ongoing detention of these protesters,” said Marceau Sivieude.

Increasing wrongful arrests and detentions ahead of presidential election

A few weeks ahead of the presidential election in which President Paul Biya runs for an eighth term, restrictions on civic and democratic space are worsening, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights warned on 2 September.

This travesty of justice must end.

On 4 August, at least 54 MRC supporters were arrested next to the Constitutional Council in Yaoundé during pre-election dispute hearings, according to Hippolyte Meli Tiakouang. All of them are now on bail. Twenty-three are facing prosecution for allegedly inciting revolt and disturbing public order, and if convicted face several years in prison.

On 9 August, a man who posted videos calling for demonstrations against the rejection of the candidacy of MRC leader Maurice Kamto was arrested and has been held at New Bell prison in Douala on the orders of the Douala military court. According to his lawyers, he is being prosecuted for ‘publicly condoning the crime of undermining the internal security of the state’.

“These opposition supporters should never have been arrested in the first place. The fact that they were arrested points to the alarming crackdown on freedom of expression and peaceful assembly in Cameroon. The charges against those who are prosecuted for exercising their human rights must be dropped,” said Marceau Sivieude.

“In recent years, anyone who dares criticize the authorities, whether a human rights defender, a journalist, a political activist or a protester, runs the risk of being arbitrarily arrested and detained, tortured or otherwise ill-treated, and tried by military courts. Unfortunately, this trend increases as the presidential election approaches. This travesty of justice must end.”

“The authorities must uphold the country’s international human rights obligations including under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to which Cameroon is a state party.”

President Paul Biya, 92, who has been in power in Cameroon for nearly 43 years, will face 11 other candidates in his bid for a new seven-year term on 12 October.

A nation in agony, a president in absentia: Biya’s Swiss retreat amidst electoral farce and genocide

22, September 2025

A nation in agony, a president in absentia: Biya’s Swiss retreat amidst electoral farce and genocide 0

In a move that epitomises a reign defined by staggering detachment and brutal repression, Cameroon’s octogenarian dictator, Paul Biya, is preparing to abscond to the luxurious confines of a Swiss palace, a mere three weeks before a presidential election engineered to grant him an eighth term. This trip, a private vacation to Geneva’s Intercontinental Hotel, is a slap in the face to a nation buckling under the weight of his nearly four decades of misrule, a bloody conflict, and a spiralling humanitarian crisis.

Biya, a leader often criticised as a reclusive and out-of-touch figure, submitted his candidacy on August 25th for an election he has no intention of contesting fairly. Instead of engaging with the electorate, he is scheduled for a ten-day sojourn in Switzerland, a country where historical records from Le Temps newspaper show he has squandered over 55 million Swiss Francs (approximately 34 billion CFA francs) of state funds on extended stays between 1982 and 2009. His return, just days before the campaign’s start on September 22nd, reveals a man confident that the electoral process is a mere formality, to be rigged by his stooges and clansmen while he enjoys European luxury.

A Dirty War and a Daughter’s Damning Indictment

As Biya packs for Switzerland, the military force he commands continues a brutal campaign in the Anglophone regions of Ambazonia, a conflict accurately described as a “dirty war.” As reported by HumAngle Media, this brutal fratricidal conflict has thrown victims into a vortex of trauma, with widespread atrocities, disappearances, and killings occurring under the silent and complicit gaze of the international community. This is not a war but a genocide, state-sponsored terror aimed at subduing a population seeking autonomy.

The damning condemnation of this regime comes not just from external observers but from within the dictator’s own household. His daughter, Brenda Biya, recently broke ranks in a stunning act of defiance, urging Cameroonians to reject her father. “My Father has made a whole nation suffer, don’t vote for him,” she declared, a truth that echoes through the bullet-riddled villages of Ambazonia and the impoverished neighbourhoods of Yaoundé and Douala.

A Nation on the Brink

The security situation remains volatile. Recent attacks, including a deadly roadside ambush claimed by separatists that killed seven soldiers, as reported by CTV News, highlight a conflict with no end in sight. There is a palpable fear that Biya’s absence could trigger a violent power struggle or even a military coup, exposing the fragile and fear-based foundation of his rule. The nation is a tinderbox, and its absent president is playing with matches from a safe distance of 4,000 miles.

A Call to Action: For Justice and Liberation

This cannot stand. The international community, particularly Switzerland and signatories to the Geneva Conventions, must no longer be a haven for a man whose treasury-draining vacations are funded by the misery of his people. We call for the immediate arrest of Paul Biya for crimes against humanity and genocide upon his arrival on Swiss soil. The principle of universal jurisdiction must be invoked to hold this tyrant accountable for the blood spilled in the Cameroons.

We demand the immediate and unconditional release of Dr Cho AYABA held in Norway, Mr Benedict NwanaKuah and Pascal Kikishy Wongbi, held in the United States and all Ambazonian political prisoners held in Cameroonian detention facilities, where torture and inhumane conditions are rampant.

To the brave fighters of the Ambazonia Defenceforces (ADf), we say: Continue your righteous struggle. Continue to protect the citizens of Ambazonia from the genocidal attacks of the Cameroonian military. Continue to inflict painful and heavy losses on the invading forces, particularly the notorious BIR (Rapid Intervention Battalion), the brutal spearhead of Biya’s repression. Your resilience in the face of a monstrous regime is the only shield our people have.

The world must open its eyes to the suffering in the Southern Cameroons (Ambazonia). The time for silent complicity is over. The time for justice, accountability, and the liberation of Ambazonia is now.

By: Dr. Larry AYAMBA,

Kupe-Muanenguba: Maiden Upper Balong Youth Festival Revives Culture, Boosts Sports

21, September 2025

Kupe-Muanenguba: Maiden Upper Balong Youth Festival Revives Culture, Boosts Sports 0

The first edition of the Upper Balong Youth Festival ran from 20 July to 17 August in Manyemen. It was organized with funds donated by Upper Balong elites in the country and abroad.

The organizing committee co-chaired by Ta Ndumbe Martin Ayuk of Talangaye and Ta Ebune Philip Ayuk of Baro, included representatives of the eight Upper Balong villages, that is Ayong, Baro, Betock, Ebanga, Manyemen, Oserayip, Sikam and Talangaye. The General Coordination and Chief Operations Officer of the youth festival was Ta Sone Bayen, a notable of Manyemen, who conceived the idea for the festival.

Activities included football for boys and girls, marathon, Miss Upper Balong, teaching youths how to cook traditional meals, speak the local language and sing and dance traditional songs.

Music by Upper Balong pop musicians Ebeny Amstrong in the United States and Tina Tong in Germany was played abundantly during the festival and Chu Bikeng Lato who is resident in the country, performed live during major activities of the festival.

The football tournament of the festival was won by Manyemen for the boys and Ebanga for the girls.

Free Calculators and Math Sets donated by Upper Balong elites were distributed to school children by the President of Upper Balong Teachers’ Association (UBTA), Dr Basua A.A.  Emmanuel.

Another high point of the Upper Balong Youth Festival was the Presentation of Ekatih Eyong-Etok, a new book on how to speak and write Kitchui, the Upper Balong language authored by Dr Tabi Elias Mbi, a director at the Telecommunications Regulatory Agency in Yaounde.

By Franklin Sone Bayen

Biya regime to seek new partnerships at Russia-Africa Economic Forum in October

21, September 2025

Biya regime to seek new partnerships at Russia-Africa Economic Forum in October 0

The Cameroon Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Handicrafts (Ccima) said it is raising awareness among its members about the upcoming Russia-Africa Economic Forum in Moscow. The announcement came in a September 15 letter from Ccima’s secretary general to the head of the Pan-African Association for Excellence, Education, Development and Friendship Between Peoples.

Cameroon sees the forum as a chance to deepen cooperation with Russia, where economic exchanges remain narrow. The relationship is currently limited to Russian wheat exports to Cameroon and Gazprom’s exclusive purchase of Cameroonian natural gas.

“The cooperation between Cameroon and Russia mainly covers military, trade and humanitarian areas. Despite economic and technical agreements signed with the former USSR in the 1960s and 1970s, the economic dimension remains underdeveloped,” Cameroon’s presidency noted in a preparatory document for the 2023 Russia-Africa Summit.

The same document stressed that, as Cameroon faces financing challenges with some traditional partners, cooperation with Russia could help fund major structural projects.

It added that Russia, the world’s eighth-largest economy, holds expertise in wheat production, fertilizer manufacturing and mining. Partnerships should therefore focus on mobilizing development aid, attracting foreign direct investment, strengthening trade capacity, building partnerships and expanding resources through decentralized cooperation.

Source: Business in Cameroon

Brenda Biya calls on Cameroonians to reject President Biya in October

21, September 2025

Brenda Biya calls on Cameroonians to reject President Biya in October 0

The president’s only daughter published a video on social media on Thursday in which she appealed to voters and told them to not cast their ballot for her father in the upcoming presidential election.

Paul Biya, incumbent president of Cameroon, might have not imagined his campaign for his planned seventh re-election as president to take such a turn. The reason? His only daughter, Brenda Biya, called for Cameroon’s population to not vote for her father in a video published on her TikTok account on Thursday.

In the video, which the 27-year-old was taken in Switzerland, Brenda Biya said that she would “cut” all contact with her parents and said that her family had mistreated her, as well as people close to her “wanting her dead”.

She then pivoted to politics, saying that she would not “vote for Paul Biya” and that she “hoped there would be another president”.

The video has gone viral and has been welcomed by the political opposition. No known official reaction has come from the presidency or the government.

Brenda Biya previously caused controversy with other videos on several occasions, notably showing herself dancing and also through a video published last year announcing her homosexuality, a sexual orientation which is deeply frowned upon on Cameroon.

Source: Africa News

A Critical Rebuff: The International Criminalization of Liberation Movement and the Complicity in the Ambazonian Genocide

19, September 2025

A Critical Rebuff: The International Criminalization of Liberation Movement and the Complicity in the Ambazonian Genocide 0

The recent, coordinated international arrests of key Ambazonian leaders—the illegal detention of our President, Dr. Cho Ayaba, in Norway, and the charges against our compatriots, Benedict NwanaKuah and Pascal Kikishy Wongbi, in the United States—represent a sinister and calculated escalation in the global campaign to annihilate the Ambazonian quest for self-determination. These actions are not isolated judicial events but political acts, designed to decapitate our liberation movement and provide diplomatic cover for the genocidal campaign being waged by the puppet regime of Paul Biya in La République du Cameroun and its master, the French government.

This moment reveals a profound and damning hypocrisy within the international order, drawing direct parallels to other gross injustices, such as the unwavering support of Trump’s USA for the Israeli genocide in Gaza.

1. The Political Persecution of Ambazonian Leadership: A Global Witch-Hunt

The arrest of Dr. Cho Ayaba, the recognised President of the Federal Republic of Ambazonia and leader of our decolonisation struggle, is an egregious violation of international law and the principle of political asylum. As detailed by Fatshimetrie, this detention, likely executed under intense pressure from Yaoundé and Paris, is a blatant attempt to:

•          Silence Our Chief Advocate: Dr. Ayaba is the most potent and articulate global voice detailing the genocide against our people. His incarceration is intended to mute our narrative on the world stage.

•          Criminalize a Legitimate Struggle: By falsely equating our right to self-defence—a right enshrined in the UN Charter—with terrorism, our oppressors and their international sponsors seek to delegitimize our cause and justify their own ongoing atrocities.

•          Demoralize Our People: The message is clear: no Ambazonian leader is safe, even in nations that profess a commitment to human rights. Norway has shamefully become an outsourcing agent for the Biya regime’s political repression.

Similarly, the charges against Benedict NwanaKuah and Pascal Kikishy Wongbi in Minnesota must be viewed with extreme scepticism. While we do not condone attacks on civilians, the timing and nature of these charges reek of a politically motivated setup, orchestrated to corroborate the false narrative of “Ambazonian terrorists” and to provide a pretext for further international crackdowns on our diaspora and funding networks. This is a classic tactic of colonial powers: to provoke a resistance and then use the response to justify overwhelming, brutal retaliation.

2. The Biya Regime and Its French Patron: Architects of the Ambazonian Genocide

As the AGOVC has meticulously documented (agovc.org), the Cameroonian state is not engaged in a “conflict” but is executing a premeditated genocide against the people of Ambazonia. This campaign, supported logistically, militarily, and diplomatically by France, includes:

•          Systematic Massacres: The burning of entire villages (e.g., Ngarbuh, Muyenge, Kumba) and the summary execution of civilians.

•          Scorched-Earth Tactics: The deliberate destruction of homes, hospitals, schools, and farms to induce famine and force the displacement of our people.

•          Torture and Sexual Violence: Widespread use of rape as a weapon of war and horrific torture in clandestine detention centres.

•          Economic and Medical Siege: Imposing illegal blockades that restrict access to food, medicine, and humanitarian aid.

France’s role is that of the primary enabler. It arms, trains, and funds the Cameroonian military. At the UN Security Council, it provides diplomatic immunity for the Biya regime, blocking any meaningful intervention or sanctions. France protects its economic interests (managed by corporations like Bolloré and Total) and its neocolonial Françafrique influence at the cost of Ambazonian blood. Paris is not a mediator; it is a co-sponsor of this genocide.

3. International Hypocrisy: The Palestine-Ambazonia Parallel

The world’s silence on Ambazonia is part of a broader pattern of hypocrisy and selective application of international law. The parallel with Palestine is unmistakable:

•          The Oppressor’s Playbook: Both the Israeli state and the Cameroonian regime employ the same rhetoric of “counterterrorism” to justify a brutal military occupation and the collective punishment of a civilian population.

•          Great Power Complicity: Just as the Trump administration provided unconditional political cover, funding, and weapons for Israel’s crimes in Gaza, the French government provides the identical support package to the Biya regime. The United States and France act as the twin guarantors of impunity for these genocides.

•          Media and Institutional Blackout: Both crises are met with a deafening silence from the international media and a cowardly refusal by global institutions to uphold their own laws and conventions.

The message to oppressed peoples is clear: your right to exist and to self-determination is contingent on the geopolitical interests of powerful nations. International law is a weapon used against the weak and a shield for the powerful.

A Call to Action

The arrests of our leaders are a desperate attempt to break the spirit of the Ambazonian people. They will fail. Our resolve, forged in the fires of immense suffering, is unbreakable.

We therefore demand:

1.        The Immediate and Unconditional Release of President Dr. Cho Ayaba and the immediate dropping of all politically motivated charges against Benedict NwanaKuah, Pascal Kikishy Wongbi, and all detained Ambazonians.

2.        An End to French Complicity: An immediate arms embargo and the cessation of all military and diplomatic support from France to the Biya regime.

3.        ICC Investigation: A full, independent investigation into the genocide in Ambazonia by the International Criminal Court, with charges brought against Paul Biya and his military commanders.

4.        UN-Supervised Decolonisation: The immediate initiation of a UN-mediated process for the complete and sovereign independence of the Federal Republic of Ambazonia, rectifying the historical crime of the 1961 plebiscite.

The world failed Rwanda. It is failing Palestine. It must not be allowed to complete the genocide in Ambazonia. History is watching.

#FreeAyabaCho #FreeAmbazonia #EndGenocide #FranceStopTheKilling #Cameroon #USAHandsOffAmbazonia

By Dr. Larry AYAMBA, Former Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs of the Ambazonia Governing Council (AGOVC)

Cameroon cocoa challenges deepens amid disease and insecurity

19, September 2025

Cameroon cocoa challenges deepens amid disease and insecurity 0

Cameroon’s cocoa industry, the world’s fourth-largest, is facing a compounding crisis that combines disease, insecurity, and corporate pullback. The sector generates over CFA 359 billion (about USD 595 million) from 180,095 tons in the first half of 2024/25 and sustains nearly one million people, but output is under acute pressure. National production, commonly ranging from 250,000 to 290,000 tons, is expected to contract by at least 10% this season, with the South-West region, the supplier of nearly half the crop, being hit hardest.

The first blow is biological. Heavy rains since July 2025, topping 2,200 mm in the South-West, have triggered a surge in black pod disease (Phytophthora megakarya). Infection rates of 65–70% have been reported in key districts such as Muyuka and Kumba. Counterfeit fungicides undermine farmers’ efforts to contain the outbreak, as many are smuggled across the Nigerian border. The result is pod losses ranging from 30% to as high as 90% on some farms, eroding both quality and volume simultaneously.

Layered on top is insecurity. The Anglophone conflict has entrenched “ghost town” lockdowns in the South-West and North-West, enforced by separatist groups. On these days, all economic activity halts, and farmers risk ambush if they attempt to reach plantations. A recent one-month lockdown disrupted government field inspections and fungicide quality checks, worsening the spread of disease. Historically, these ghost towns have cut cocoa sales from the South-West by as much as 40%, and 2025 has seen their persistence alongside sporadic clashes and extortion on rural roads.

Corporate retrenchment adds another dimension. Telcar Cocoa Ltd., which once handled up to 40% of the nation’s beans, suspended processing operations in mid-September, citing a “bean quality crisis.” The move follows Telcar’s earlier split with Cargill and reflects both the deterioration of crop quality and the logistical disruptions caused by ghost towns. By withdrawing, Telcar reduces domestic processing capacity, pushes more beans onto spot markets, and signals growing uncertainty to investors. The suspension also deprives farmers and small grinders of a key buyer, deepening income losses.

The mechanics of the crisis show a classic supply shock in a commodity with inelastic short-term output. Farmers cannot quickly expand acreage or replace diseased trees. With fewer beans being moved to market, prices rise. At the same time, ghost towns and insecurity impose frictional costs: shipments are delayed, storage risks rise, and smuggling surges. For small grinders, the effect is severe — input costs can increase 20–30%, throughput is disrupted, and margins are compressed by as much as 70%. Many risk closure without relief.

Global markets are already feeling the ripples. Futures on ICE were trading at USD 7,364 per ton on September 17, down slightly on the day but vulnerable to upward spikes. Cameroon’s potential 25,000–40,000-ton shortfall alone cannot overturn global supply dynamics dominated by Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, yet in a context of regional weather shocks and political volatility, it magnifies uncertainty. Price volatility in Q3 has already risen above 7%, and Telcar’s exit will feed risk premiums in forward contracts.

Policy and commercial responses are lagging. Government inspection programs remain hampered by insecurity, while fungicide certification and distribution channels are too porous to prevent the penetration of counterfeit products. Extension services are restricted, and there is no adequate insurance or risk-sharing mechanism for grinders. Without rapid action, production in 2025/26 could contract by 15–25%, resulting in sustained high local prices (4,000–6,000 CFA/kg) and hollowing out processing activity and rural incomes.

The crisis is a test of resilience for Cameroon’s cocoa economy. Farmers require secure corridors to access plantations and reliable fungicide supply chains. Small grinders need cooperative mechanisms and hedging tools to manage volatility. For investors, the message is twofold: the near-term opportunity lies in long positions on West African cocoa, but the long-term risk is systemic — without integrated solutions that tackle both disease and insecurity, Cameroon’s comparative advantage in premium-quality cocoa could erode irreversibly.

Source: Business in Cameroon

Kamto calls on opposition candidates to rally behind a single contender

19, September 2025

Kamto calls on opposition candidates to rally behind a single contender 0

With less than a month to go before Cameroon’s October 12 presidential election, Maurice Kamto, leader of the Cameroon Renaissance Movement (MRC), has issued an urgent call for the 11 opposition candidates to rally behind a single contender or form a strong coalition against incumbent President Paul Biya of the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM).

In his statement on Wednesday, September 17, Kamto stressed that the country is facing “a historic moment where political change is possible,” urging opponents of the regime to avoid splitting the vote. He argued that the opposition must “clarify the situation and simplify voters’ choice through a political alliance,” in order to enable change “peacefully and at the ballot box.”

Just days earlier, on Friday, September 12, Kamto hosted Issa Tchiroma Bakary, leader of the National Salvation Front of Cameroon (FSNC) and one of the 11 contenders cleared to face the outgoing president.

Kamto described their talks as “frank and cordial,” while Tchiroma’s campaign portrayed the meeting as “a gesture of respect and solidarity” toward “a key opposition figure unjustly excluded from the presidential race.” In a statement, the FSNC said the encounter demonstrated “the strength of unifying leadership, placing the nation’s higher interest above personal ambitions.”

Although barred from the ballot by the Constitutional Council on grounds of “multiple nominations”—a decision he denounced as a “political maneuver”—Kamto remains a central figure of the opposition. His resignation from MANIDEM, formalised on September 12, cleared the way for his return as MRC leader, in line with a resolution of the party’s National Council.

As President Paul Biya, in power since 1982, seeks an eighth term, Kamto reiterated that “the struggle continues,” calling on the 11 opposition candidates to act like a football team by choosing “the striker with the best chance of scoring the winning goal.”

Source: APANews

Yaoundé: Religious leaders urge peace as presidential election nears

18, September 2025

Yaoundé: Religious leaders urge peace as presidential election nears 0

Cameroon’s churches and mosques are intensifying efforts to promote calm and civic responsibility as the country prepares for its 12th October presidential election, amid fears that rising tensions could trigger violence.

The Central African nation has been rattled by years of unrest, including a separatist insurgency in its English-speaking regions and widespread allegations of corruption. Economic hardship and deepening mistrust in state institutions have heightened anxiety ahead of the polls, with analysts warning that online hate speech and political rivalries could inflame unrest before or after results are announced.

Catholic bishops have been among the most vocal religious voices calling for peace. In August, Bishop Barthélemy Yaouda Hourgo of the Diocese of Yagoua ordered all parishes to ring bells daily at 12:30pm for the Angelus prayer, calling on the faithful to pray for stability.

“As pastor of this diocese, I ordain that all the faithful recite the Angelus together each day to ask God for peace and entrust the elections to the Virgin Mary,” Hourgo said, adding that peace “is a gift from God but also the fruit of our daily commitment.”

Archbishop Samuel Kleda of Douala used his pastoral letter to denounce what he called “anti-Gospel acts,” including corruption and bad governance, which he said are fueling public discontent.

“Our country is thirsty for social justice expressed through respect for human rights,” he said. “Every Cameroonian must resolve to do his or her bit in the fight against the many ills that are destroying the country.”

During Bafoussam’s annual Peace Pilgrimage, Bishop Paul Lontsié-Keuné reminded Christians that their prayers must translate into action. “If we are sincere and really Christians, our prayer for peace must inspire our action – and our action must also be prayer,” he said.

The Council of Protestant Churches of Cameroon (CEPCA) has pledged to mobilise congregations against hate speech and promote peaceful participation in the vote. In late August, a 15-member delegation led by Rev Hamadina Salomon met with Minister of State Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh at the Unity Palace. Ngoh Ngoh, representing President Paul Biya, praised the initiative and urged clergy to act as “apostles of peace” and “guardians of stability.”

Muslim leaders have also organised a national “peace and stability” conference and collective prayers for unity, encouraging worshippers to see peaceful participation in the election as a religious duty.

Pastor Emmanuel Ngang, a traveling preacher in Cameroon’s western region, has been holding services in both city churches and rural chapels to spread a simple message: unity is stronger than division.

Ngang said he keeps his message brief and practical so congregants can take it to heart. “I remind people that peace starts with each of us,” he said. “We must speak carefully, vote honestly and keep the country together.”

His visits often include meetings with youth groups, where he encourages young people to avoid spreading inflammatory posts online.

“Many of them fear what will happen if things turn violent,” he said. “I tell them fear can paralyse us, but faith can guide us.”

Observers say that religious leaders play an outsized role in Cameroon’s public life, often serving as moral voices in a country where political trust is low. But they also walk a fine line: some critics argue that their close contact with government officials risks undermining their independence.

Still, analysts agree that their combined influence could help shape the tone of the electoral period. Faith leaders say they are not endorsing candidates but trying to keep the peace.

“My task is not to tell people who to vote for,” Ngang said after a recent service. “It is to remind them that Cameroon will still be here the day after the election – and we will still need to live together.”

Source: sightmagazine

Paul Biya at 92: will defections weaken his grip on absolute power?

18, September 2025

Paul Biya at 92: will defections weaken his grip on absolute power? 0

Cameroonians go to the polls in October 2025 in what some people hoped might be a break from the country’s troubled recent past. They thought that President Paul Biya (92) might stand aside to allow a transition.

Three years ago I was one of those who expressed optimism about the 2025 poll. But I was wrong.

Biya is set to run yet again for an 8th term. He is already one of Africa’s longest ruling presidents, behind only Equatorial Guinea’s Teodoro Nguema.

Biya is on the cusp of achieving lifetime presidency since taking office in 1982.

In July 2025, after months of speculation, he confirmed in a tweet that he would run again.

Having weathered coups, silenced dissent, defied death rumours, and outlasted generations of challengers, he reminded friend and foe alike that he remains at the centre of Cameroon’s political ecosystem.

I am a long time scholar of and commentator on African politics, regime transformation, democratic transition and broader governance. Given regional developments that have seen the military deposing long term leaders, one might expect Biya to superintend a managed transition. The intriguing question is: what is it about the situation in Cameroon that continues to defy logic?

There is evident restlessness and frustration among young Cameroonians as well as clear clamour for change. Yet, the incumbent remains the front-runner, supported by the ruling party, the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement, and his near-total command of the state’s political machinery.

Simply, the system has been designed to serve Biya’s interests. With government control of the media, resources, and judicial and electoral institutions, it is unlikely that the opposition can bring about systemic change.

Some things have changed, however. Biya’s previous wins were landslides that left no room for debate. This time things could potentially be different on account of high-profile defections from his party. These men will be challenging him at the polls.

The field

The last electoral cycle, leading up to the 2018 poll, was characterised by subdued challenges and a co-opted or deeply divided opposition. This time Biya appears to face a relatively organised opposition.

Initially, 83 candidates signalled their interest. In July the electoral commission cleared 13 to run. The commission controversially disqualified Maurice Kamto, a renowned legal scholar who performed respectably in the 2018 electoral cycle with 14% of the vote.

Human Rights Watch warned that this would cast a shadow over the credibility of the electoral process.

Nevertheless, several credible figures across the political spectrum remain in the race and present alternatives.

Biya faces two other former allies turned political adversaries.

One is Issa Tchiroma Bakary, his minister of employment and vocational training. A longtime insider of the regime, he served in various ministerial roles and was long considered a loyalist. Yet in June 2025, he resigned from the government, delivering a searing critique of the system he once represented.

He then launched his campaign, running on the ticket of the Front for the National Salvation of Cameroon.

The minister of tourism and leisure, Bello Bouba Maigari, still formally holding office, declared his intention in July 2025 to run against his boss in the October elections.

This announcement was especially striking given the deep political history between the two men. Maigari is not just any cabinet member. He is a long-standing confidant of the president, having been appointed Biya’s prime minister in 1982 and hailing from the vote-rich northern region. The decision to enter the race marks a shift from loyal lieutenant to presidential challenger, revealing the growing fissures within the ruling elite.

Others in the race worth noting are:

Akere Muna, the son of a former speaker who swore in Biya in 1982 and a tireless advocate for transparency and accountability. He ran for the top job in 2018 (but withdrew at the last minute).

Cabral Libii, from the Cameroon Party for National Reconciliation, a young and dynamic leader who also ran for president in 2018 and garnered 6% of the total vote.

Joshua Osih, a seasoned politician with a strong track record.

The issues

The nation’s pressing issues remain the same as they have been for a long while.

These include:

Endemic corruption. Cameroon is ranked 140 out of 180 countries by Transparency International. The reasons are systemic decay of state institutions and maladministration.

Economic stasis, including stubborn unemployment forecast at 7.34% by Statista; 23% live below the international poverty line and 3.3 million are food insecure.

The ongoing anglophone regional crisis pitting the English speaking regions against the dominant francophone centre.

Biya’s ability to govern and the succession question, given his very advanced age and the potential vacuum or infighting if he couldn’t complete his term.

The external dimension

Western actors have been consistent critics of Biya’s regime in the recent past. However, some have adopted a more cautious tone, balancing criticism with strategic interests.

The US, for instance, suspended some military assistance to Cameroon in 2019 over human rights abuses. But it continues counter-terrorism cooperation against Boko Haram.

The European Union, while pressing for peaceful resolution of the anglophone conflict, remains an important trade and aid partner.

China has become Cameroon’s largest bilateral creditor and a top trading partner. According to a report by Business in Cameroon, in 2024 Cameroon owed about 64.8% of its external bilateral debt to China. This is primarily for infrastructure loans that have funded projects like the Kribi Deep Sea Port, the Yaoundé-Douala highway, and hydropower stations.

For regime survival, Biya has pursued a pragmatic foreign policy. Beijing’s diplomatic stance of non-interference and respect for sovereignty resonates with Cameroonian political elites wary of western scrutiny and criticism over democratic backsliding and the anglophone conflict.

But Biya has not severed ties with the west. For example, the government maintains partnerships with France for security training, with Germany for decentralisation support, and with the US for counterinsurgency.

This balancing is not simply geopolitical. It is also deeply embedded in domestic patronage networks. Foreign aid, loans and investments serve as resources to consolidate elite power, strengthen the patronage system and suppress dissent.

The October polls are sure to reaffirm the status quo.

Culled from The Conversation

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