In Cameroon, a tense atmosphere has emerged following the presidential election held on 12 October 2025, as the leading opposition figure, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, declared himself winner ahead of official results. In a video address, Tchiroma asserted that “our victory is clear. It must be respected,” and urged longtime leader Paul Biya, aged 92, to concede, emphasising that “the people have chosen. And this choice must be respected.”
However, the government swiftly rejected the self-proclamation. The Minister of Territorial Administration, Paul Atanga Nji, condemned the claim as “an act of extreme gravity,” stressing that under Cameroonian law only the Constitutional Council may officially declare the winner by no later than 26 October.
The self-declared victory and the government’s dismissal of it have triggered concerns about post-election unrest. The ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM) reported that one of its offices in Dschang was set on fire, and security forces arrested demonstrators in cities including Douala, raising red flags about instability.
In that volatile context, the country’s Catholic bishops, as represented by the National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon (NECC), have issued repeated calls for calm, civic responsibility and respect for the electoral process. Earlier this year, in a pastoral letter the bishops reminded Cameroonians that elections “represent significant moments … an occasion for the people to assert their sovereignty through the free and deliberate choice of their leaders,” and urged all stakeholders to contribute to peace and justice.
The bishops pleaded for the process to be free of intimidation, fraud, and the “swords of hatred” that threaten social cohesion, especially in regions already affected by conflict. They emphasised that voters should not allow fear or apathy to undermine their civic duty.
Analysts say the combination of a former insider-turned-challenger (Tchiroma once served under Biya), the incumbent’s long tenure (over four decades), and a mobilised young electorate has heightened the stakes in what many regard as a potentially historic vote for Cameroon.
For now, the official result remains pending and the bishops’ appeal for calm underscores the fragile balance between popular expectations and institutional constraints. Observers warn that how the next weeks unfold — including whether the final declaration is accepted peacefully — could determine whether the election becomes a catalyst for change or a spark for unrest.
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