The presidential election of October 12, 2025 has come and gone. Despite deep and genuine concerns over the conduct of the polls, the results have been proclaimed and the incumbent declared the winner. In keeping with laid down rules, he was sworn-in on November 6, to take up his eighth term in office. He will be there for the next seven years barring any unforeseen.
In the interest of peace, it is our hope that we should be able to see clearly where things have gone wrong for us to mend our broken fences and chart a new course forward. We congratulate the president for his victory.
We do this, however, with a strong message on our lips across to Mr. President that, the Cameroonian people, as well as the world at large, are waiting for the peace they believe he can now offer the Cameroonian people as a whole and the the people of the two English-speaking regions of the country in particular, following his official landslide victories in these regions. This despite the many post-election protests at home and abroad.
We are aware of the many concerns raised by the Western governments and international organizations over the conduct of the polls and the ensuing contestations.
Our entire electoral system needs to be reformed and seriously improved upon with the election management body ELECAM to be truly independent and shielded from an overbearing administration which seems to be the main masters of elections in Cameroon.
In his inaugural address, just like in 2018, President Biya called on separatists to lay down their arms and join the CNDDR centres. A call which has had very limited heeding.
Calls for inclusive dialogue continue to be drummed up nationally and internationally with the Yaounde government remaining impervious.
No doubt there was such a huge groundswell support for opposition candidate, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, who not only promised an inclusive dialogue on the issue but promised to liberate political prisoners. Mr Biya and his hardliners should have a second thought on how to resolve this 9-year-conflict.
Decentralisation is such a patent failure and the current deep frustration among the masses is partially due to the clogged wheel of Decentralisation. We have to move forward and fast.
In his speech, the president mentioned impending constitutional reforms. We think the structure of the state, electoral reforms should be high on the agenda.
Whichever way the president might have all along been directing his wisdom over this crisis, we still believe that the situation has become more complicated and cumbersome than it was when it all started with the Common Law Lawyers’ strike followed very closely by the teachers’ strike. This therefore requires even more sober reflection over his official position that the form of the state cannot be compromised.
As seen during the election, a strong consensus is building around a federal state which cannot be ignored.
What we think is important now and to a large extent urgent, is the dire need for peace and this requires that pride be put aside for concessions to be made and accepted. This is the direction we would want the president’s wisdom to take to justify the rationale in his victory.
The president during his oath-taking vowed to pay special attention to the empowerment of youths and women and improve the dilapidated sectors of roads, energy and water.
Cameroonians in towns and villages are facing nightmarish situations be it in poor roads, epileptic electricity supply and lack of potable water. The situation is both disgusting and shameful for a country so rich.
But how can it be otherwise when a few have virtually grabbed nearly all our resources and are living in luxury and nagging opulence while the majority of Cameroonians wallow in abject poverty and misery!
The president’s fight against graft, corruption and embezzlement seems to reach a deadlock as the same even on crutches lord it over vibrant and intellectually capable youths and women.
Mr. President, your people are waiting. After 43 years on the seat, nothing will justify another delay to change the direction our country has slumped into. We have already wasted so much time.