Politics in Cameroon: Issa Tchiroma Bakary Condemns Kousseri Killings, Calls for Independent Justice
Signed from his residence in BANJUL on July 25, 2026: Issa Tchiroma Bakary, Presidential candidate, who recently took part in the 2025 Presidential Elections, has strongly condemned the killing of two civilians in Kousseri on July 22, 2026, describing the incident as “outrageous and unacceptable” and calling for accountability from those responsible.
In a statement issued from Banjul on Saturday, Tchiroma expressed condolences to the families of the victims, saying his thoughts were with them during what he described as a tragic moment.
“The blood of two of our fellow citizens has once again been shed. This is outrageous and unacceptable,” he stated.
Tchiroma alleged that the incident reflected excessive use of force by members of the security services. He argued that a police force entrusted with protecting lives should not resort to the use of lethal force against unarmed civilians.
He further maintained that no legal justification or claim of self-defence could warrant what he described as the killing of unarmed citizens.
The opposition figure linked the Kousseri killings to what he characterized as broader political repression following the presidential election of October 12. He claimed that thousands of young Cameroonians remain imprisoned for contesting the election results and renewed his call for the immediate and unconditional release of those he described as political prisoners.
According to Tchiroma, those detained, together with families affected by post-election violence, should receive compensation. He also reiterated that he had referred matters relating to the post-election crisis to international judicial mechanisms in pursuit of accountability.
In his statement, Tchiroma stressed the need to end impunity within the country’s defence and security forces. He said Cameroon’s youth deserved opportunities for education, employment, and a better future rather than violence.
He pledged that, if given the opportunity to govern, he would prioritize reforms aimed at strengthening professionalism within the security services, upholding the rule of law, and protecting fundamental freedoms.
The statement concluded with a message of national unity, ending with the words, “Long live the Republic. Long live Cameroon.”
Authorities had not publicly responded to Tchiroma’s statement at the time of publication. The circumstances surrounding the deaths in Kousseri and any official investigations into the incident remain to be clarified.
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.
