The declaration of President Paul Biya as winner of Cameroon’s 2025 election has once again brought to light deep concerns about governance and human rights in the country.
Development Diaries reports that Biya’s election win was finally confirmed by Cameroon’s Constitutional Council on Monday.
92-year-old Biya is Africa’s oldest and among the world’s longest-ruling leaders, and this eighth-term rule could keep him in power until 2032 as he nears 100.
Following the confirmation, protesters calling for fair results from the presidential election, which was held on 12 October, hit the streets in several cities, as a crackdown by armed forces has killed at least four opposition supporters.
At 92, Biya’s continued rule has been marked by repression and shrinking civic space.
The violence that followed the 12 October election, marked by killings, arbitrary arrests, and the use of live ammunition against protesters, reflects growing frustration among citizens over limited political participation and questionable electoral transparency.
This unrest, seen in cities like Douala, Yaoundé, and Maroua, shows that the government continues to rely on force rather than dialogue to manage dissent.
Senior Africa researcher at Human Rights Watch (HRW), Ilaria Allegrozzi said, ‘Tensions are running high given the contested reelection of Paul Biya.
‘Security forces should be protecting people, not fueling the violence’.
This crackdown violates several of Cameroon’s human rights obligations. Under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Cameroon is a state party, citizens have the right to life (Article 6), freedom of expression (Article 19), peaceful assembly (Article 21), and freedom of association (Article 22).
The African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, also ratified by Cameroon, protects these same rights and further calls on states to guarantee citizens’ participation in government (Article 13).
The arbitrary arrests, disappearances, and reported killings of protesters stand in direct violation of these obligations and the UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials, which restrict the use of lethal force to situations where it is strictly unavoidable to protect life.
These incidents also highlight the government’s disregard for accountability mechanisms meant to protect civilians.
The refusal to disclose the whereabouts of detainees such as Aba’a Oyono constitutes a possible enforced disappearance, which is prohibited under international law and recognised as a continuing human rights violation.
Detaining minors and opposition members for exercising their right to protest undermines Cameroon’s commitments under the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, both of which safeguard children’s right to protection from arbitrary detention and violence.
The Cameroonian government should take immediate steps to uphold its international obligations by ordering an independent investigation into reports of excessive force, ensuring that those responsible are held accountable, and releasing all individuals detained for peaceful political activity.
In order to rebuild public trust and demonstrate genuine respect for democracy and the rule of law, the government must also reaffirm its commitment to citizens’ rights to free expression and peaceful assembly.
Photo source: Zohra Bensemra/Reuters
