Cameroon bishops urge transparency as post-election tensions rise

Yaounde, Cameroon – The Catholic Bishops of Cameroon have called for transparency and accountability in the aftermath of the October 12 presidential election, warning that irregularities observed during the polls threaten the country’s democratic credibility despite a largely peaceful voting day.

In a statement issued on October 20 under the banner of the National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon (NECC), the bishops praised the calm atmosphere across polling stations but expressed unease over several procedural lapses and logistical shortcomings reported by Church observers.

“The atmosphere was calm and peaceful,” the bishops acknowledged, commending Elections Cameroon (ELECAM) and law enforcement agencies for ensuring security. However, they said the credibility of the process was undermined by irregularities that “seriously hinder our progress towards democracy.”

The NECC deployed 202 accredited observers across 12,257 polling stations nationwide. Their report cited high voter abstention in key areas, outdated voter registers containing the names of deceased persons, and instances of polling stations being relocated without prior notice.

The bishops also drew attention to concerns about ballot handling and transparency in vote counting. “The minutes prepared by ELECAM were signed on the first and last pages, but not on the middle pages containing the vote count,” they noted, describing the omission as a breach of procedure that could affect public confidence.

In several cities, including Douala, Yaoundé, Maroua, and Bertoua, voters were reportedly seen leaving with ballot papers for candidates other than their choice, while in some polling centres, ballot bins were positioned in a way that compromised voter privacy.

The Bishops also highlighted isolated cases of violence, notably in Garoua, where clashes involving the convoy of opposition candidate Issa Tchiroma Bakary left a police officer injured and a gendarmerie truck burned. Similar disturbances were reported in Dschang and Douala after the polls.

Despite these issues, the bishops commended the generally transparent counting process, which they said began publicly at 6:00 pm in most polling stations, allowing voters to witness the tallying of results.

Nearly a week after voting, the official results have yet to be announced, prompting growing concern among citizens and civil society. The bishops urged the authorities to “publish accurate and verifiable results” and to address all reported irregularities through lawful and peaceful means.

They called on Cameroonians to remain calm, pray for peace, and trust that justice and truth will prevail, reaffirming the Church’s commitment to the nation’s democratic journey.