— October 8, 2025

As Cameroon approaches its pivotal presidential election on October 12, tensions are rising across the country, particularly in the North West region. Allegations of political manipulation, regional marginalization, and threats to democratic integrity have cast a shadow over the campaign season.

🔥 Rising Accusations and Political Realignments

Former Minister of Employment Issa Tchiroma Bakary has emerged as a prominent opposition figure, drawing massive crowds in Douala and other cities. Once a staunch ally of President Paul Biya, Tchiroma has broken ranks, denouncing decades of hardship and institutional neglect in the country’s northern regions. His candidacy under the Cameroon National Salvation Front has galvanized support among youth and disillusioned voters.

Tchiroma’s defection has reportedly triggered backlash from the ruling Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (CPDM), with party officials calling for his removal from government posts and questioning his loyalty. Despite this, Tchiroma has vowed to challenge the status quo and promote reconciliation, especially in the English-speaking regions affected by years of conflict.

🕵️‍♂️ Allegations of Electoral Interference

Amid the political upheaval, concerns have surfaced about potential interference in the electoral process. Civil society groups and international observers have expressed fears that the election may not be free or fair. Some activists allege that certain government officials are working behind the scenes to manipulate outcomes in favor of the incumbent.

One name repeatedly mentioned in activist circles is Territorial Administration Minister Paul Atanga Nji, who hails from the North West region. Critics accuse him of undermining opposition efforts and spreading misinformation about rival candidates. These claims, however, remain unverified and have not been substantiated by independent investigations.

🌍 Calls for International Oversight

Dr. Ntuba Akwo, a prominent voice in Cameroonian Global civil society, has called on global institutions to closely monitor the election and ensure transparency. “Cameroon stands at a crossroads,” he said in a recent statement. “The international community must not turn a blind eye to the threats facing our democracy.”

Human rights advocates have also urged the government to guarantee the safety of journalists and political activists, following the unresolved killing of journalist Martinez Zogo in 2023—a case that continues to stir public outrage.

🗳️ What’s at Stake

President Paul Biya, now 92, has ruled Cameroon since 1982. His long tenure has faced increasing scrutiny, especially from younger generations demanding change. With multiple opposition candidates—including Cabral Libii, Joshua Osih, and Bello Bouba Maigari—vying for leadership, the 2025 election could mark a turning point in Cameroonian politics.

Whether the vote will reflect the will of the people or deepen existing divisions remains to be seen. For now, Cameroonians are watching closely, hoping that their voices will be heard—and respected—at the ballot box.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

The Silence That Failed Us: Dr. Akwo Thompson Ntuba Speaks to Cameroon’s Youth on Paul Biya’s Enduring Presidency

By Dr. Akwo Thompson Ntuba International Physician, Global Health Consultant, and Civic Archivist

As Cameroon approaches yet another presidential election, the question echoing across campuses, WhatsApp groups, and community halls is painfully simple: How did we get here? How is it possible that Paul Biya—at 92 years old, with nearly 65 years in government and over 43 years as president—is once again on the ballot for another seven-year term2?

To the young adults of Cameroon, I say this not with condemnation, but with clarity: We failed you. And I include myself in that reckoning.

🕰️ A Legacy of Longevity Without Renewal

Paul Biya’s political career began in the 1960s. He became Prime Minister in 1975 and ascended to the presidency in 1982. Since then, he has presided over constitutional amendments that removed term limits, suppressed dissent, and centralized power in ways that have hollowed out democratic institutions3. His rule has been marked by allegations of electoral manipulation, human rights abuses, and economic stagnation.

Yet, despite these realities, Biya has declared his candidacy for the October 2025 election, stating, “The best is still to come”.

🧠 The Failure of Civic Memory and Political Education

Cameroon’s youth are not apathetic—they are under-informed, under-engaged, and often deliberately excluded from political discourse. We failed to teach them the mechanisms of power. We failed to document the betrayals. We failed to build platforms where their voices could shape the future.

We allowed a culture of fear, silence, and survival to replace civic courage. We let the myth of inevitability take root: “Biya will always win.” “Nothing will change.” “It’s not our time.”

But it is your time. And it always was.

🧱 The Architecture of Entrenchment

Biya’s longevity is not just personal—it’s systemic. It is built on:

• A ruling party (RDPC) that rewards loyalty over vision

• Electoral bodies that lack independence and transparency

• A fractured opposition that fails to unite around common goals

• A population conditioned to expect repression and accept stagnation

Even his own daughter, Brenda Biya, has publicly urged Cameroonians not to vote for him, calling out decades of misrule6. That moment—unprecedented in African politics—should have been a wake-up call.

🧭 What Comes Next: A Call to Youth

This is not just about Paul Biya. It is about the systems that allowed him to remain. It is about the elders who chose comfort over confrontation. It is about the intellectuals who wrote essays but never built movements. It is about the diaspora that watched from afar but did not organize from within.

To Cameroon’s youth, I say:

• Learn your history—not just the official version, but the lived one

• Document your truth—through media, art, and civic engagement

• Build coalitions—not just for protest, but for governance

• Demand accountability—not just from leaders, but from yourselves

🕊️ Legacy Is Not a Throne—It Is a Torch

I have spent my life documenting civic resilience, health equity, and cultural memory across continents. I have seen what happens when people believe they are powerless. And I have seen what happens when they remember they are not.

Cameroon’s future will not be decided by one man’s age or ambition. It will be decided by whether its youth choose silence or stride.

Let us not fail again.