Cameroon’s influential Catholic Church has appealed for calm and restraint as tensions rise over the yet-to-be-announced results of the country’s 12 October presidential election.
Opposition candidate and former government spokesman Issa Tchiroma Bakary has declared himself the winner, claiming to have defeated 92-year-old President Paul Biya, who is seeking to extend his 43-year rule by another seven years.
Tchiroma’s self-declaration has been dismissed by the government and Biya’s ruling party, with several officials labelling his move as “illegal” and a provocation. The Constitutional Council, which is the only body authorized to announce official results, has until 27 October to declare the winner.
The opposition leader’s defiance and insistence that he will “defend his victory” have fuelled fears of post-election unrest in the Central African nation.
In a statement released by the National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon (NECC), the country’s Catholic Bishops called for peace, urging all parties to respect the democratic process and the rule of law.
“The Bishops hope that the official results will reflect the will of the electorate and that nothing will be altered by any authority involved in this exercise,” the statement read.
The Catholic Church, one of Cameroon’s most respected institutions, is widely regarded as a moral authority and has often spoken out on issues of governance and justice. Its latest message aligns with growing public calls for transparency and fairness in the vote-counting process.
Several church leaders have in the past openly criticized President Biya’s long tenure and governance record. In January, Monsignor Yaouda Hourgo, Bishop of the Diocese of Yagoua in the Far North region, said it would be “better for the devil to take power” than for Biya to seek another term, lamenting the suffering endured by citizens under his rule.
“We’re not going to suffer any more than this. We’ve already suffered enough,” he said in his homily.
Following widespread protests over alleged electoral fraud, the Constitutional Council announced that it would begin hearing complaints on Wednesday — a process expected to play a decisive role in determining the country’s next president.
In their message to the judges, the Catholic Bishops reiterated a powerful reminder:
“The truth shall set you free.”
