Gov’t condemns calls for nationwide lockdown.

Minister Emmanuel Sadi also voiced his discontentment to calls for insurrection, ghost towns or civil disobedience during a press conference on Sunday, November 2.

The presser was organised on the eve of the start of a three-day nationwide lockdown which opposition presidential candidate, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, invited Cameroonians to respect.

Tchiroma had said the move is to protest against what he called “stolen victory” in the October 12 presidential election.

During the presser, Minister Rene Sadi insisted that such calls are likely to endanger the life of the nation, social peace and economic development.  

“…As a matter of fact, the harmful effects of the slogans echoed in recent days, loudly proclaiming an unconfirmed victory, should be deplored and condemned,” he said.

Rene Sadi added that: “It is for this reason that the Government strongly condemns the hasty proclamation of victory by “one candidate”, as well as the radical challenge to the final verdict of the Constitutional Council confirming the victory of the incumbent President Paul Biya”.

He also decried the acts of violence against citizens, looting of property belonging to individuals and legal entities, setting ablaze of public and private buildings, and storming of security posts, buildings housing public services and political party offices.

The MINCOM boss urged Cameroonians nationwide not to yield to the calls for the lockdown but to go about their activities unperturbed.

“The Government appeals to the discernment, sense of responsibility and patriotism of Cameroonians to thwart all these ill-advised attempts and preserve our precious achievements of peace, stability, social cohesion and harmonious coexistence,” minister Sadi said.

Sadi added that: “The Government therefore invites everyone to work to extinguish these deadly conflicts and to put Cameroon first, above ethnocentrism, egocentrism and personal ambitions”. 

Dangles sanction against defaulters

During the presser, the MINCOM boss warned that such acts, which constitute insurrection, are provided for and punished by Section 116 of the Cameroonian Penal Code.

He reminded citizens that they risk imprisonment from ten to twenty years if found guilty of the various acts. 

Rene Sadi also reminded that the government has taken measures to restore public order and tranquillity, in accordance with its sovereign duties.  

Minister Sadi announced that those responsible for the disturbances, caught in the act of committing their crimes, have been arrested.  

He said the suspects are currently being investigated by the security services in order to establish their respective responsibilities and bring them before the competent courts, where appropriate.  

Frowns at friendly countries, int’l partners  

Minister Emmanuel Sadi seized the occasion to call on the representatives of friendly countries and other international partners to be objective.

He said their “positions should be based on mutual respect for our sovereignties” and not "lecture others or allow their positions to appear partisan”. 

The minister added that this could adversely affect relations with their respective countries.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3615 of Tuesday November 04, 2025