Political tension remains palpable in Cameroon following the validation of the presidential election results, which confirmed Paul Biya for another term. While a relative calm seems to have returned after brief periods of unrest, calls to protest the election, widely considered fraudulent, are intensifying. Mobilization is taking place not only within the country but also among the Cameroonian diaspora.

Rising protests and a firm government response

From Yaoundé to Douala , citizen movements and civil society organizations are urging the population to take to the streets. Their objective is clear: to denounce what they consider a "power grab." Mobilization campaigns are being actively conducted online, notably by prominent figures in the diaspora based in Europe and the United States.

Faced with this fervor, the government opted for a firm stance . The Minister of Territorial Administration, Paul Atanga Nji, sparked controversy by calling the supporters of opposition leader Issa Tchiroma Bakary "terrorists." These remarks were immediately criticized by political analyst Henriette Ekwe , who saw them as proof of a government "out of touch with reality."

"If Mr. Atanga Nji followed world news, he would know that there comes a time when people say stop. This has happened in Nepal, in Madagascar, and today, young Cameroonians are expressing the same exasperation," she said.

Ms. Ekwe points out that the popular anger is a direct echo of the feeling of injustice caused by the victory attributed to President Biya, at the expense of Mr. Tchiroma.

The specter of repression looms.

In this tense climate, authorities fear a resurgence of violence. Security forces have been strategically deployed in sensitive areas of major cities. As a precaution, several previously announced demonstrations have been banned .

At 92 years old and having ruled the country for over four decades , Paul Biya is facing an unprecedented wave of protests. His opponents denounce an authoritarian regime and demand an urgent democratic transition . For a large segment of the population, this latest re-election symbolizes "the exhaustion of the system" and the pressing need for political renewal.

While the international community prioritizes calls for calm and dialogue, the general public seems determined to express its discontent. Cameroon thus finds itself in a delicate situation, torn between the hope for change and the fear of repression .