Post-election violence: Battle for truth.

The nationwide post-election violence has illustrated the disparity between what the government says and what the international human rights groups, the African Union, European Union and even countries like France and above all supporters of Issa Tchiroma Bakary, who declared himself winner of the October 12 presidential election, say.

There is a visible credibility gap in what after the mayhem, has become a media and diplomatic war between Tchiroma and the Cameroon government, with the Minister of Territorial Administration, Paul Atanga Nji, on the frontline.

At the second semi-annual conference of Regional Governors on Tuesday, under the theme, "Administrative Authorities and the Maintenance of Order in the Post-Electoral Period," Atanga Nji said the post-election violence resulted in: one protester killed in the West Region; three in the East; three in the North; nine in the Littoral and four deaths in the Littoral Region due to a stampede.

But data from two United Nations sources disseminated by international media estimate that "at least 48 civilians were killed during the demonstrations, while opposition groups put the toll at 55".

While Atanga Nji, whose figures are 20 deaths, praised the "professionalism" of the defence and security forces in handling the post-election violence, there has been widespread international criticism of the violent crackdown by security forces on protesters.

Human Rights Watch on Wednesday, "accused the police and gendarmes of using lethal force, committing killings, and arbitrarily detaining hundreds of people". 

The NGO said many protesters "appeared to have been shot dead by security forces while dozens of others were left nursing gunshot wounds". 

Minister Paul Atanga Nji also has disclosed that 1,234 persons were arrested nationwide and will be brought before the competent courts to answer for their crimes. He said the suspects were mainly minors within "the age bracket of 12 and 17 years." He added that those who took to the streets were under the influence of drugs and alcohol and attacked the forces of law and order to undermine State authority.

He pointed out that the suspects were involved in gang looting, arson and vandalism and destruction of properties that was recorded in "...a well-planned rebellion initiated by the bad loser candidate". 

Tchiroma, to whom the accusations were made without calling names, had from his exile, given Yaounde a three-day ultimatum to free all those detained.

He didn't say what he would do, but he followed it up with three days of ghost town protest which was partially successful.

As the country prepares for Sunday’s Regional Elections, which Tchiroma has asked his supporters to boycott, Minister Atanga Nji told Governors to be on the watchout.

He instructed them to ensure a peaceful and secure voting process in the November 30, 2025, Regional Elections. 

Despite the limited electorate, he stressed that every precaution must be taken to ensure the safety of voters, ELECAM staff and equipment.

The caution is predicated on a background that Tchiroma, in maintaining pressure on the CPDM regime, has called for a second ghost town to disrupt the regional poll; after the first one that was to pay tribute to "those who fell to the bullets of the security forces…".   

There is no doubt that there has been a media war of diplomacy pitting Tchiroma, a former spin doctor of the Biya regime, and the regime he knows too well, including its Achilles heel.

But "when two elephants fight", like an African proverb says "only the grass suffers." 

Ordinary Cameroonians are the ones left in the lurch.

Even when the regime loses its credibility, it isn't those in government who suffer, but the masses.

Although Minister Atanga Nji instructed Governors to ensure there is peace, by closely monitoring political parties, Non-Governmental Organisations, NGOs, post-election tensions still loom.

The truth is that the tensions strike the ordinary Cameroonian, especially unemployed youth with spiraling prices of basic commodities and hunger which is a devil's workshop more than excuses of "intoxicating" minors with drugs and alcohol available in sachets that the regime has been unable to ban.

Post-election conflicts, as history teaches, often generate risky dynamics, especially in a situation where the aggrieved leader cannot be contained like in the case of Tchiroma, who is known to have by official acknowledgement won in critical Regions like Littoral, Adamawa, North, Far North and an important Division like Fako in the South West Region.

In such a situation, the approach to mitigate escalation of tension is reconciliation, appeasement, forgiveness and the truth as the late Nelson Mandela illustrated; not lies or blame game. 

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3638 of Thursday November 27, 2025