The world’s oldest leader, Cameroonian President, 92-year-old Paul Biya, is reportedly set to extend his 42-year rule in the upcoming 2025 elections. Under President Biya’s four-decade reign, citizens’ fundamental rights and individual freedoms have remained threatened.
Biya’s regime is marked by political repression and a lack of genuine democracy. If left unchecked, these problems could further plunge Cameroon into chaos. To address them, Cameroon should, for example, draw lessons from South Africa’s successful democratic model. By fostering inclusive dialogue, strengthening civil society, and ensuring fair elections, Cameroon can begin to build a stronger and more vibrant democracy.
South Africa’s democratic journey offers valuable lessons for Cameroon. Despite the dark era of apartheid, South Africa successfully transitioned to democracy through inclusive negotiations between opposing political factions. This process resulted in the emergence of a robust electoral system, independent institutions, and a vibrant civil society.
For the past three decades, South Africa has displayed democratic maturity, fuelled by an informed electorate and a culture of accountability. Cameroon’s path to democratic renewal requires strengthening its institutions, fostering inclusive dialogue, and ensuring credible elections. These steps are essential for building a healthy governance system that Cameroon currently lacks.
Cameroon is considered an authoritarian state, ranked 138th out of 167 countries in the 2023 Demrocracy Index by the Economist Intelligence Unit. This low ranking manifests in political repression, restricted freedoms, and a flawed electoral system.
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For example, the Biya government banned opposition coalitions in March 2024, partly to suppress dissent ahead of the 2025 elections. This suppression has sparked fear and uncertainty across the country.
For things to change, the Cameroonian government must lift the ban on opposition coalitions and seek to unite the country through inclusive dialogue. This dialogue should involve all key stakeholders, opposition parties, civil society, and traditional leaders. The focus should be on creating a roadmap for inclusive governance that prioritises power sharing and the decentralisation of authority.
This approach is necessary to foster national unity, as it allows for greater representation of diverse voices and reduces the risk of further political repression. Reforms should begin immediately and it should be potentially facilitated by a neutral entity like the African Union, to foster trust and ensure a peaceful transition of power.
Fraud in elections
Accusations of fraud have long marred Cameroon’s electoral process. Without meaningful reforms, the 2025 elections will likely suffer the same fate. President Paul Biya is accused of manipulating the electoral process, with the ruling party’s dominance over electoral bodies.
To address the risk of electoral manipulation, the African Union Democracy and Electoral Assistance Unit should engage proactively in Cameroon’s upcoming election. This could involve deploying long-term observers to monitor the entire electoral process, from polling to post-election dispute resolution.
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The AU should further offer technical assistance to Cameroon’s electoral commission to improve transparency. These reforms must begin immediately to ensure that the 2025 elections reflect the people’s will.
Cameroonian citizens have shown significant reluctance to register to vote out of fear that President Biya’s administration would rig the 2025 elections. Voting registration ended on Saturday, August 31, and only about seven million people are registered to vote out of over 16 million eligible voters.
This apathy weakens democratic participation and deepens citizens’ disillusionment with the political process. In response, the government should reopen and extend the voter registration period and launch a comprehensive voter education campaign. Reopening and extending the voter registration period is essential to encourage greater participation.
A comprehensive voter education campaign is equally necessary to empower citizens with knowledge about their rights and the importance of their votes, fostering a more informed electorate. Civil society organisations should lead this effort, which needs to be pursued before the 2025 elections through engagement with local media, community leaders, and schools to reach the country’s most remote areas.
Cameroon stands at a crossroads. It can either continue down a path of repression or embrace the democratic ideals that have sustained South Africa’s progress. By fostering inclusive dialogue, strengthening institutions, and ensuring electoral transparency, Cameroon can finally set the stage for lasting political stability. The time for decisive action is now.
Rabelani Mulaudzi is a writing fellow at African Liberty, a U.S.-based think-tank focused on advancing individual freedom, peace, and prosperity in Africa. He’s available at rabelanimulaudzi704@gmail.com. The opinions expressed here are the writer’s own and do not necessarily reflect those of The Chanzo. If you are interested in publishing in this space, please contact our editors at editor@thechanzo.com.
