21/10/2025
STATEMENT OF THE NATIONAL EPISCOPAL CONFERENCE OF CAMEROON
ON THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION OF 12 OCTOBER 2025
In April 2024, the Plenary Assembly of the Bishops of Cameroon reminded all our fellow citizens of the need to register for the October 2025 presidential election and the regional elections that were to follow. Last March, on the twentyfifth day of the current year, the same Conference of Bishops published a Pastoral Letter on the presidential election, the content of which remains and will remain relevant for all people of good will. The next step was to refresh and train some Christian faithful as observers of the elections in general.
As the presidential election approached, the National Episcopal
Conference, through its National Justice and Peace Service, asked the Minister of Territorial Administration for 307 accreditations to observe the election, and he gave 202. Despite their small number, these observers were able to deploy throughout the country with the help of the various 'Justice and Peace' coordination teams in the dioceses.
The 202 observers covered twelve thousand two hundred and fifty-seven (12,257) polling stations out of thirty-one thousand six hundred and thirty-five (31,635), or 39% of those in the country's 10 regions.
Based on what was observed on the Election Day, the National Episcopal Conference would like to express its satisfaction with the efforts made by Elections Cameroon (ELECAM) to ensure that the voting took place in a serene atmosphere. The polling sites and stations were well known to voters and accessible to the vast majority. The premises were secured by law enforcement agencies, notably unarmed police and the gendarmerie. Outside the polling stations, the atmosphere was calm and peaceful. In each polling station, the ballot box was sealed and transparent; it was sufficiently visible to the public; the voting booth was arranged in such a way as to ensure discretion and preserve the secrecy of the vote. We commend the example of democratic civility shown by the assessors on duty in most polling stations. Still on the Election Day, the public counting of the ballot papers in most polling stations was appreciated.
Although the atmosphere throughout the country was calm on election day, the National Justice and Peace's overall report on the observation of the 12th October presidential election also notes certain irregularities that seriously hinder our progress towards democracy.
- It was noted that the minutes prepared by ELECAM were signed by the representatives of the parties present at the polling station on the first and last pages, but not on the middle pages containing the vote count as published at the polling station.
Our observation also noted the following:
High abstention rates (cases of Kribi 1 and 2, Lycée de Tsinga, Matamfen Supérieur, etc.);
- Relocation of certain polling stations;
- Failure to update the electoral register, which still contained the names of deceased persons;
- Some bins were positioned in such a way as to allow voters to see the ballot papers discarded by the previous voter, which was likely to influence the vote;
- In Douala, Yaoundé, Maroua, Garoua and Bertoua, some voters left with ballot papers for candidates who were not their choice;
- There were also cases of polling stations that existed on the ground but were not included on the official ELECAM list.
- An incident was reported in the city of Garoua, where, following an intervention by the police on the convoy of the candidate, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, who was returning from his polling station, clashes between the police and young people resulted in serious injuries to a police officer and the burning of a gendarmerie truck.
- After the voting day, other scenes of violence in the towns of Dschang and Douala were observed.
With regard to the counting and publication of the results of the vote per polling station, a step provided for in Article 113 of the Electoral Code, our observers noted that these operations generally began at 6 p.m., in the presence of members of the Local Voting Commissions, scrutineers recruited from among voters registered on the polling station lists, and a few observers and voters.
The results of each candidate were made public in the 12.257 polling stations where we observed, and since the counting was public, the people recognized themselves in the votes that were counted and left generally satisfied. As the people left, they expressed their hope that they will still recognize
themselves in the results that will be published by the Constitutional Council and that nothing will be changed by any authority involved in this exercise.
As stated in the Pastoral Letter ofthe Bishops cited above, it is our prayer that, with the help of God and the commitment of all, our country will experience peace and stability in truth, and will emerge stronger, thanks to the contributions of millions of Cameroonians through their daily work and love for the country,
As we all await the results of the elections, we remember the words of Christ, "Et Vehitas liberabit vos — And the truth shall set you free".
Given at Yaoundé, 19th October 2025.
Archbishop of Bamenda and President of NECC
President of the Commission for Justice and Peace
