African Union congratulates Biya, but says ‘gravely concerned’ over post-election chaos in Cameroon
The African Union has extended its congratulations to Cameroon’s President Paul Biya, whose proclamation as the winner of the 2025 election has sparked widespread, fatal violence in the Central African country that has been under his rule for the past 43 years.
On behalf of the 55-member union, Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf of Djibouti acknowledged Biya’s October 27 proclamation, made possible by the Constitutional Court’s dismissal of eight petitions alleging electoral irregularities.
“To this effect, the Chairperson extends congratulations to His Excellency Paul BIYA on his victory, as the re-elected President of the Republic of Cameroon,” the African Union said in a letter disseminated online.
Mahmoud’s brief salutation to Biya was followed by an extended expression of concern over multiple reported incidents of post-electoral violence in Cameroon.
Since October 12, reports have swirled online about violence and repression targeting Biya dissidents. Four protesters were killed in a protest in Cameroon's commercial capital, Douala, a day before the proclamation.
On the day the Constitutional Court announced the winner, candidate Issa Tchiroma Bakary, who placed second in the polls, wrote on social media that civilians were being shot at outside his residence.
Security around Tchiroma’s residence has since been fortified, photos from Reuters show.
“The Chairperson is gravely concerned about the reported violence, repression and arrests of protesters and political actors in connection with the election results,” the African Union statement read.
“The AUC Chairperson of calls on all institutional and political actors to exercise restraint and work towards the preservation of social cohesion, peace and stability in Cameroon,” it continued.
In his first and only public statement so far since reelection, Biya condoled with those “who have unnecessarily lost their lives [as] a result of post-election violence.”
Biya will be inaugurated on November 6 in Yaounde, the capital of Cameroon.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
