Electoral controversies led to tensions in Cameroon. As per the reports of multiple sources including the BBC, there are controversies over the 2025 presidential elections. While Paul Biya — the president of Cameroon — who won the election claims the presidential elections to be free and fair, the opposition candidate Issa Tchiroma Bakary, who lost the elections claims it to be manipulative. Nationwide protests have been carried out against the irregularities and in support of the opposition candidate, who denies the election outcomes. The protesters were forcefully responded and many were arrested and detained, leading to concerns. But it remains unclear whether and how much the elections were free and fair and how much the post-election unrest will be addressed.
Without an impartial investigation, it is probably difficult to say how much irregularities there were in the elections. The opposition has lodged complaints of different sorts of irregularities including vote stuffing in the elections and inconsistencies in vote tabulation, which were held on 12 October but were marred with deadly violence. But the Constitutional Council and Cameron judges deny that there are irregularities in the elections, in which, as per the government’s results, the incumbent president got 53 percent while the opposition candidate, who once served as a minister in the Paul Biya’s government, received 35 percent of the votes. Many residents and some civil society groups have voiced their opinions favoring the opposition and claim that Tchiroma won the election.
Political institutions that exist are severely undermined by a highly centralized, personalized, and repressive regime that effectively controls all branches of the government. Even if the government is right in its electoral claims and there is no significant irregularities that can alter the electoral outcomes, there are several concerns — especially related to the elections — including public anger over the electoral results, nationwide post-election unrest and forceful crackdown on protesters in Cameroon, where several people have died in the protests held in the capital and several other cities. These can not only lead to further tensions in the days ahead, along with the crackdown that in turn could trigger a wider crisis, but also weaken shaky political institutions.
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Political instability in the Republic of Cameroon, which originated from the elections, if it continues, can lead to other outcomes and instigate armed groups, especially in the north-west and south-west regions. Pertinently saying, Cameroon has been in battle against separatist insurgencies in the English-speaking North West and South West regions due to various reasons including long-standing grievances of marginalization and discrimination against the Anglophone minority. Armed groups often attack in the Far North and the border with Nigeria, worsening economic hardship in Cameroon. It may not be surprising altogether if the post-election instability acts as a trigger to more instability in Cameroon.
Political stability is vital in Cameroon, where there is high poverty, corruption, limited economic opportunities and other problems. But it s not easy to do so in a lasting manner without addressing various concerns — including electoral concerns. The government needs to convince that there were no irregularities in the latest elections and address post-election violence. Additionally, talks with the opposition, instead of the use of force against protesters, will be helpful. Addressing several other developments including the arrests and detention of protesters in the protests in Cameroon will also be helpful.
But Cameroon also needs to improve its political grounds. For this, Cameron needs to address its highly fragile political institutions, personalized electoral autocracy and electoral fraud. Pertinently saying, there are political institutions are fundamentally weak, manipulated by the executive branch, and there is a lack of true independence or accountability. Without addressing these, it is difficult to improve the electoral systems and strengthen political institutions.
Amir M Sayem
Chief Editor
Dhaka Opinion Magazine
