Post-election appeasement: Urgency for coordinated communication.

On Monday, just a day after Issa Tchiroma Bakary, who proclaimed himself victorious at the presidential poll, issued an ultimatum to Biya, giving him 48 hours to free all those detained within the context of the disputed poll or expect a "fight."

Whether initially planned or was in response to Tchiroma’s threat, Minister Atanga Nji was dispatched to Ngaoundere in the Adamawa Region, on Monday, by President Biya.

Adamawa had traditionally been Biya's stronghold but he officially lost to Tchiroma and the Region, like two others that make up the Grand North, has become the Achille’s heel of the regime.

That should explain why it was the focus of the regime's appeasement mission after the swearing-in ceremony of President Biya.

According to the State-owned Cameroon Radio Television, CRTV, the minister was "carrying a message of peace and calm from the Head of State, following the post-election incidents that affected the entire Region".

At a meeting with traditional, religious authorities and elected officials of Adamawa Region, Atanga Nji said he came to explain the significance of the message contained in the President's inaugural address of November 6, 2025.  

He distributed copies of the speech as "an invitation to take ownership of the message so that work can begin- to ensure peace and tranquility, and a bright future for all Cameroonians from North to South and from East to West".

Atanga Nji also stated that he was leading a mission of appeasement, raising awareness about peace, and calling for collective responsibility in preserving Cameroon's shared heritage.

In an attempt to defuse the national and international assessment that the election was massively rigged, leading to numerous fatalities, he said it was “...a credible and transparent election, free from any irregularities".

Then, in his usual style, he added: "It is far removed from the lies and other hateful manipulations disseminated in the public sphere by irresponsible and pernicious politicians who, despite their failure, are advocating chaos by inciting the population to revolt”.

Minister Atanga said information that has nothing to do with reality was being disseminated in the media and on social networks by "losers who are left with nothing but tears after their crushing defeat".

Minister Atanga Nji, carefully avoided the numerous casualties. By doing so, however, he pricked the bitter bile of appeasement advocates who questioned: "Why doesn't he [President Biya] test his popularity? 

He should mingle with the crowd, shouldn't he? Why are you running away from your electorate who should normally be rejoicing, because we celebrate the victory?"

The questions have built-in answers. Paul Biya's messenger of peace and appeasement followed that of Minister Rene Sadi, who was on Radio France Internationale, RFI, groping to confirm the number of compatriots killed after the ballot.

He was asked by RFI: "...Two UN sources quoted by Reuters are reporting a figure of 48 deaths. Can you confirm this?"

His reply: "There have certainly been losses of lives, and that can only sadden us. The forces responsible for maintaining order could not remain inactive in the face of the unrests among the demonstrators, despite the extreme restraint that these forces demonstrated. And the figures that are being put forward by these organisations, such as the UN, are not verified, they are not corroborated”.

RFI further asked: “How many victims, according to your information? How many deaths?

Minister Rene Sadi responded that: "We've heard figures of several dozens. As the investigations are ongoing, we will know the final death toll in the coming days".

He concluded by saying: “We all have an interest in ensuring that our country experiences peace and stability”.

At The Guardian Post, we are in accord with Minister Rene Sadi that there is the urgency for appeasement but the government needs to coordinate its communication strategy, especially given that Tchiroma has launched a media war.

The government cannot be talking of appeasement and peace and at the same time spew dissonance messages for "losers to cry".

President Biya, with all his wealth of experience, needs not be reminded that the regime is in a hybrid media warfare with Tchiroma, his former Communication Minister and Government Spokesman.

Tchiroma, with his in-depth knowledge of how the regime operates, has recruited media warriors abroad as a tool to influence public opinion and control the narrative of a post-election conflict, whose impact looms with uncertainty.

If he wins the media war, it would be difficult for Biya's appeasement mission to succeed, which is why he needs to embed a strong and coordinated media strategy led by, as The Guardian Post recommended yesterday, the Prime Minister, Head of Government, Dr Chief Joseph Dion Ngute. 

Commentators are unanimous that beside being a pacifier, the strides in dousing flames in the Anglophone conflict coronates him with a magic wand for "the complex task".

It is a task that should not involve pride, provocation, victimisation or force, but with the humility and ability of coordinated communication for citizen mobilisation and democratic refounding, based on a political praxis rooted in social justice.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3622 of Wednesday November 12, 2025