UN Raises Concerns Over Cameroon’s Election Amid Crackdown on Civic Freedoms
The United Nations has raised strong concerns about the political climate in Cameroon ahead of the country’s October 12 presidential election, warning that restrictions on freedoms and mounting repression could undermine the credibility of the vote.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, said the electoral process is already being overshadowed by “increasingly limited civic and democratic space.”
He noted that a genuine democratic election requires an atmosphere in which citizens can speak, organize, and vote without fear, but evidence on the ground suggests the opposite.
“A safe and enabling human rights environment is essential for peaceful, inclusive, and credible elections. It regrettably appears that this is not the case in Cameroon,” Türk said.
Reports from the country indicate that opposition parties have faced bans on political gatherings, disruptions of live media interviews, and harassment of their supporters. Last month, security forces detained at least 53 opposition activists, accusing them of unlawful assembly and incitement.
Although those arrested were later released, the UN stressed that the arrests reflected a troubling pattern of intimidation against those exercising their basic rights.
The situation has been further complicated by the exclusion of leading opposition figure Maurice Kamto from the ballot. Both the electoral commission and the Constitutional Council upheld his disqualification, leaving the race tilted in favor of long-time incumbent President Paul Biya. At 92 years old, Biya is seeking yet another term, having been in power since 1982. Critics argue that his government has stifled dissent, mishandled conflicts in the country’s Anglophone regions, and entrenched a system of political control that prevents real competition.
International observers warn that these developments could inflame political tensions in a nation already grappling with instability. With civic space shrinking, opposition weakened, and the ruling party dominating the electoral landscape, questions about the legitimacy of the forthcoming election are growing louder.
The UN has urged the Cameroonian authorities to immediately lift restrictions on political participation, respect freedom of expression, and ensure that voters are allowed to make their choice in a free and fair process. Without such steps, Türk warned, the credibility of the election and the trust of the international community could be at serious risk.
