🇨🇲 Post-Electoral Violence in Cameroon: A Nation at the Crossroads.

Hi guys, accept Steem greetings from the motherland-Cameroon though it’s becoming a hell on earth with the socio-political nature of the country.

Elections are meant to be moments of hope, a time when citizens express their will and shape their country’s future. But in Cameroon, too often, elections have become flashpoints for tension, fear, and division. As the country prepares for yet another 7 years of misery under the present regime, conversations around post-electoral violence are resurfacing and they deserve our full attention.

Post-electoral violence refers to acts of intimidation, protests, clashes, and human rights abuses that occur after election results are announced. In Cameroon, this phenomenon has repeatedly shadowed the nation’s democratic process. Accusations of vote rigging, lack of transparency, and deep mistrust in electoral institutions have created a climate where peace feels fragile and democracy, uncertain.

After the 12th October 2025 presidential election, widespread frustration erupted over alleged irregularities and perceived marginalisation of certain groups. Some opposition leaders file in for the post-electoral litigations which still did not satisfy their claims.

Other opposition supporters took to the streets, demanding accountability. Security forces responded with crackdowns, arrests, detentions, and reports of excessive force followed. The aftermath left not just physical scars, but emotional ones too. Families were divided, communities polarized, and faith in the electoral process eroded further.

The roots of post-electoral violence in Cameroon run deeper than a single election. They are tied to systemic issues: limited civic education, weak institutions, a lack of independent oversight, and an environment where political dialogue often gives way to repression. In regions already affected by conflict such as the Anglophone areas massive rigging was done to favour the incumbent and we fear can inflame existing tensions, turning political disagreement into violent confrontation. We have seen recently the abduction of the parliamentarian and the murder by separatist fighters.

Civil society organizations, youth leaders, journalists, and faith-based groups are stepping forward, calling for peace, transparency, and accountability. Their message is clear: “…Democracy cannot thrive where violence is normalised.”

We all have a role to play in breaking this cycle and I will suggest the following:

1.Promote Civic Education: We should encourage open dialogue about the electoral process. An informed voter is less likely to be manipulated by misinformation. Most people are not fully aware of the electoral process.
2.Advocate for Peaceful Engagement: Disagreements are part of democracy and Violence should never be. Let us use social media, community forums, and grassroots movements to champion peace.
3.Demand Transparency: Citizens and institutions must hold electoral bodies accountable. Fair elections begin with fair systems and not the one where the head of states appoints going with the adage “…You cannot bite the finger that feeds you.”
4.Speak Up Against Hate Speech: Words can heal or harm. Let us choose unity over division, especially online and above all learn to tolerate one another.

Cameroon’s future depends on its people not just politicians or parties, but everyday citizens who believe in justice, peace, and equality. Post-electoral violence is not inevitable but it is a consequence of silence, fear, and mistrust. But by choosing dialogue over destruction, truth over manipulation, and peace over power, Cameroonians can rewrite this narrative.

The time to act is now. 🇨🇲💚
#PeaceInCameroon #ElectionsWithoutViolence #DemocracyMatters #StopPostElectoralViolence

NB: all images are from my WhatsApp working group monitoring and observing electoral violence.