Cameroon warns opposition against ‘illegal’ election result announcements
Cameroon’s Minister of Territorial Administration, Paul Atanga Nji, has warned that any attempt by opposition candidates to independently publish election results will be treated as “high treason” and will be addressed through “retaliatory measures.”
Nji made the remarks on Friday, days before the country’s presidential election on October 12.
“For close to 10 days now, I've been hearing about platforms created by a presidential candidate purportedly to count ballots in the 10 regions,” Nji said. “I've also learned through international media about a trade union that has set up a platform to count votes and announce the results of the presidential election.”
“There is equally an initiative by a young lawyer in Douala who has created an application to count votes and publish the election results,” he added. “I would like to call on all candidates, especially those conspiring with people of dubious character, with plans to activate these illegal platforms, to abandon this criminal initiative, which cannot prevail.”
The statement followed opposition candidate Issa Tchiroma Bakary’s call for President Paul Biya to concede defeat ahead of the vote. Nji accused Tchiroma of planning to declare himself president from his home village.
“This candidate, who is nursing such outdated and diabolical ideas, should know that his house does not have armoured doors,” he said. “And that in the event of the least blunder, MinAd will take immediate action and law must prevail.”
Reiterating the state’s position, Nji stressed that “only the Constitutional Council has the authority to announce the results of the presidential election after resolving any election-related disputes.” He added that “any unilateral publication of election results is high treason” and warned that those attempting to self-proclaim victory “would have crossed the red line and should be ready to face retaliatory measures commensurate to their crime.”
Cameroon has been ruled by President Biya since 1982, making him one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders. Twelve candidates are contesting this year’s election, but the opposition remains fragmented after failing to unite behind a single challenger to Biya, who is seeking another seven-year term at age 92.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
