Cameroun — Ghost Towns, Exile Diplomacy and a Spreading Post-Election Crisis

[CAMEROON CONCORD | Yaoundé / Northern Regions / Douala] —
More than two months after Cameroon’s disputed 12 October presidential election, the country is grappling with a complex post-election crisis marked by civil disobedience, opposition activity from abroad, judicial controversy and rising insecurity across multiple regions.

Ghost Town Actions and Partial Paralysis

In early November, calls for “ghost towns” circulated in several parts of the country, with particularly visible effects in northern Cameroon. Between 3 and 5 November, transport services slowed, markets closed intermittently and daily economic activity was disrupted as residents stayed indoors, many citing fear rather than political conviction.

The calls followed opposition candidate Issa Tchiroma Bakary’s rejection of the official election results and his public claim of victory. Leaflets urging civil disobedience were widely distributed, encouraging citizens to paralyse public life in protest against what his camp described as electoral fraud.

Despite these tensions, President Paul Biya, 92, was sworn in on 6 November for an eighth presidential term.

Exile and Regional Diplomatic Backchannels

Shortly after the election, Tchiroma Bakary left Cameroon and sought refuge abroad, first in Nigeria and later in The Gambia. From exile, he continued to insist that he was the rightful winner of the presidential vote and renewed calls for civil disobedience against the authorities.

According to diplomatic and political sources, his departure occurred despite an arrest request issued by Yaoundé and was facilitated by regional backing, notably from Nigerian President Bola Tinubu and Senegalese President Macky Sall. The episode has added strain to relations between Cameroon and Nigeria, highlighting the regional dimension of the crisis.

In mid-November, figures close to Tchiroma Bakary announced steps toward parallel political communication. On 17 November, lawyer Alice Nkom was named presidential spokesperson. She later dismissed the 30 November indirect regional elections as a “farce,” reinforcing the opposition’s rejection of post-election institutions.

Rising Rhetoric and Allegations of Repression

The standoff has been accompanied by increasingly confrontational rhetoric from some of Tchiroma Bakary’s supporters. On 9 November, businessman Ben Modo, publicly aligned with the opposition, announced the creation of a self-described self-defence group, stating that its objective was to “overthrow” President Biya.

Other supporters accused the authorities of ethnic targeting during post-election security operations, alleging that northerners, Bamileke from the West and Anglophones were disproportionately affected. The government has rejected these allegations.

Civil society organisation Stand Up for Cameroon stated on 19 November that at least 39 people had been killed and more than 1,900 arrested during post-election unrest. United Nations sources later reported a death toll of 48. On 30 November, Anicet Ekane, president of the MANIDEM party, died in detention following his 24 October arrest in Douala, further intensifying tensions.

Prison Escape and Judicial Controversy

The crisis deepened in mid-December with the reported escape of Fabrice Léna Vavemi, a political activist and former campaign director for presidential candidate Ateki Caxton.

An official escape and search notice issued by Douala Central Prison on 16 December 2025 states that Léna Vavemi—born 23 August 1994 in Baligham-Santa (Mezam Department)—escaped custody on 12 December 2025 while being escorted back from the public prosecutor’s office. He had been detained since 5 November 2025 on charges of use of forged public and authentic documents, under proceedings before the Douala Bonanjo Court of First Instance.

Following reports of his escape, Léna released statements claiming he was outside Cameroon, at one point saying he was in Cape Verde. He alleged corruption within the prison administration, claiming officials extorted 1.5 million CFA francs from him in exchange for permission to remain temporarily outside detention before summoning him back and reincarcerating him without explanation. These allegations have not been independently verified.

Léna also publicly accused his lawyer, Barrister Richard Tamfu, of betrayal and collusion with authorities. Barrister Tamfu made public the prison escape notice. No official judicial response has yet been recorded regarding Léna’s claims.

Léna had been arrested shortly after publicly declaring Issa Tchiroma Bakary the winner of the presidential election during a televised appearance in Douala, a fact cited by his supporters as evidence of political motivation—an assertion not acknowledged by authorities.

Renewed Insecurity in Anglophone Regions

Beyond political unrest, insecurity increased in Cameroon’s North-West and South-West regions, where armed groups resumed targeted attacks on security personnel. Between 5 and 30 November, at least a dozen law enforcement officers were killed in separate incidents.

On 23 November, the Archbishop of Bamenda expressed concern over the kidnapping of at least five priests in the North-West since mid-November, underlining the growing risks faced by civilians and religious institutions.

Jihadist Attacks in the Far North

Meanwhile, violence linked to jihadist groups continued in the Far North. In Logone-et-Chari division, suspected Boko Haram fighters carried out explosive attacks on telecommunications masts in Bargaram village between 12 and 18 November. On 14 November, an attack on a vehicle along the Dabanga–Gassama road killed a driver and led to the kidnapping of six passengers.

In the Mandara Mountains, fighters linked to the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) reportedly killed two civilians on 26 November, according to security sources.

A Crisis on Multiple Fronts

As Cameroon moves further away from election day, the crisis shows no sign of narrowing. Civil disobedience, exile politics, judicial disputes and widespread insecurity are unfolding simultaneously, stretching institutions and deepening public uncertainty.

For many Cameroonians, the overriding concern remains restoring security and stability in a context where political disputes continue to spill into the streets, the courts and beyond the country’s borders.