BBC Photo: Presidential contender Issa Tchiroma Bakary has defied the authorities by declaring himself the winner of the elections
Source: BBC
DST News: Cameroon’s powerful Catholic Church has appealed for peace and restraint as concerns mount over possible unrest following the country’s disputed presidential election.
Opposition leader and former government spokesperson Issa Tchiroma Bakary has proclaimed victory in the October 12 election, claiming to have defeated 92-year-old President Paul Biya, who is seeking to extend his 43-year rule by another seven years.
Both the government and Biya’s ruling party dismissed Tchiroma’s self-declaration as unlawful, while the Constitutional Council — the only body authorized to announce official results — has yet to release them. The Council has until October 27 to declare the winner.
Tchiroma, 76, has vowed to defend what he calls his legitimate victory, fueling fears of potential violence in the Central African nation.
In a statement issued by the National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon (NECC), Catholic bishops called for calm and emphasized the importance of peace and national unity. They expressed hope that the official outcome would “reflect the true will of the people” and that “no authority involved in this process will attempt to alter it.”
The Catholic Church, widely respected as a moral and unifying force in Cameroon, echoed growing public appeals for transparency and fairness. Some senior clergy have previously voiced strong criticism of President Biya’s long rule.
Earlier this year, Monsignor Yaouda Hourgo, Bishop of Yagoua in the Far North region, said during a sermon that it would be better for “the devil” to take power than for Biya to run again, lamenting that “we have already suffered enough.”
Following allegations of electoral fraud and public protests, the Constitutional Council is set to begin reviewing complaints on Wednesday. Its ruling will determine who will lead the country next.
In their concluding message to the judges overseeing the process, Cameroon’s Catholic Bishops offered a powerful reminder: “The truth shall set you free.”
