Cameroon’s Democracy Under Fire: Human Rights Watch Condemns Post-Election Violence
Cameroon’s post-election period has descended into turmoil, with mounting casualties, mass arrests, and widespread fear. In a strongly worded statement released today, Human Rights Watch (HRW) condemned the excessive use of force by Cameroonian security forces following the October 12 presidential election. The organization called for immediate restraint, transparent investigations, and the release of wrongfully detained protesters.
Since the vote, at least four people have reportedly been killed by security forces, dozens injured, and hundreds arrested across the country. The violence erupted in the wake of the Constitutional Council’s October 27 announcement that incumbent President Paul Biya, 92, had won reelection with 53.66% of the vote. His main challenger, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, had declared himself the winner on election day, sparking a wave of opposition-led protests.
“Tensions are running high given the contested reelection of Paul Biya,” said Ilaria Allegrozzi, senior Africa researcher at Human Rights Watch. “Security forces should be protecting people, not fueling the violence.”
Major cities including Douala, Yaoundé, Garoua, and Maroua have witnessed intense confrontations. Protesters were met with tear gas, water cannons, and in some cases, live ammunition. Tchiroma alleged on Facebook that snipers stationed around his home in Garoua were “firing at point-blank range at the people,” resulting in two deaths.
On October 26, protests in Douala’s New Bell neighborhood turned deadly. According to HRW and local media, four people were killed. Littoral region governor Samuel Dieudonné Ivaha Diboua claimed that drug-influenced youth attacked police stations and a gendarmerie brigade, prompting a violent confrontation. He confirmed the deaths and announced investigations.
Diboua also issued a decree detaining 105 people linked to protests allegedly incited online by Tchiroma. However, Tchiroma’s legal counsel, Augustin Nguefack, told HRW that the number of detainees in Douala alone may exceed 250.
Among those arrested are prominent figures from the African Movement for New Independence and Democracy (MANIDEM): Anicet Ekane, Florence Titcho, and Djeukam Tchameni.
The crackdown extended beyond Douala. On October 25, gendarmes arrested Aba’a Oyono, a public law scholar and adviser to Tchiroma, at his home in Yaoundé. His whereabouts remain unknown, raising fears of enforced disappearance—a crime under international law.
In Maroua, civil society sources reported the arrest of at least 52 protesters, including minors, on October 23. In Garoua, media sources confirmed the detention of at least 20 protesters on October 21.
These events echo Cameroon’s history of electoral repression. Biya’s 2018 reelection was followed by mass arrests and violent crackdowns. Opposition leader Maurice Kamto and over 200 supporters were detained in 2019, facing charges of insurrection and hostility against the homeland. Though released later that year, the pattern of silencing dissent has persisted.
Cameroon’s actions violate multiple international protocols. The United Nations Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials stipulate that lethal force must only be used when strictly unavoidable to protect life. Regional frameworks, including the Guiding Principles for the Policing of Assemblies in Africa, demand restraint and proportionality.
“Cameroonian authorities should immediately instruct their security forces to not resort to violence against protesters,” Allegrozzi emphasized. “They should promptly and impartially investigate alleged use of excessive and lethal force and hold those responsible accountable for any killings during this sensitive time.”
As the country reels from the aftermath of a contested election, Human Rights Watch’s statement serves as a stark reminder: democracy cannot thrive under repression. The international community, civil society, and Cameroonian citizens must demand transparency, justice, and respect for fundamental freedoms.
BeriComsEmpire will continue to monitor developments and amplify voices calling for peace, accountability, and democratic renewal.
Berinyuy Cajetan is the founder and publisher of Human Rights and Legal Research Centre (HRLRC) since 2017. He has intensive experience in strategic communications for Civil Society Organizations, campaign and advocacy, and social issues. He has an intensive experiencing in human rights monitoring, documentation and reporting.
