EU Condemns Killings in Cameroon, Calls for Justice

[BRUSSELS, Oct 28 – Cameroon Concord] — The European Union has issued its strongest statement yet on Cameroon’s disputed 2025 presidential election, denouncing what it described as the “violent repression” of peaceful demonstrations and the “firearm deaths of civilians” during protests that followed the Constitutional Council’s proclamation of Paul Biya as winner with 53.66 percent of votes against 35.19 percent for opposition leader Issa Tchiroma Bakary.

In a communique released on Tuesday, 28 October, the EEAS Press Team in Brussels reaffirmed that the EU’s partnership with Cameroon, grounded in the Samoa Agreement, is based on principles of democracy, human rights, and good governance. It reminded Yaoundé that those commitments include freedom of association, assembly, and expression — rights enshrined in the very Constitution the regime now stands accused of violating.

“The European Union is deeply concerned about the violent repression of the demonstrations … and deplores the death by firearm of a number of civilians,” the statement read. “It calls on the authorities of Cameroon for accountability, transparency and justice to tackle instances of excessive use of violence and human rights violations.”

The EU also demanded the immediate release of all arbitrarily detained individuals, many of whom were arrested during mass protests on 26 and 27 October across cities including Douala, Garoua, Yaoundé and Bafoussam, where live rounds were used against demonstrators supporting Tchiroma’s claim to victory.

European diplomats privately acknowledge rising unease within Brussels over President Biya’s intransigence and the military’s widening crackdown. Several embassies have confirmed ongoing monitoring of conditions in Garoua, where witnesses reported “shoot-to-kill” orders around Tchiroma’s residence, and in Douala, where at least seven unarmed civilians were killed.

The EU statement emphasized the need for restraint from all sides and called for a constructive national dialogue aimed at restoring stability and preserving Cameroon’s fragile cohesion. However, analysts note that Brussels’ wording stops short of questioning the legitimacy of Biya’s proclaimed win — a point already drawing criticism from local observers who view the election as a blatant manipulation.

Human-rights organizations and Tchiroma’s legal team have documented what they call a “pattern of arbitrary arrests and ethnic-based repression”, urging the EU and the African Union to trigger independent investigations. Calls for an international inquiry are now mounting amid reports of growing defections within the security apparatus and continuing unrest in the streets.

As of Tuesday afternoon, protests and road blockades persisted across multiple regions. For many Cameroonians, the EU’s statement represents the first sign that the international community is beginning to confront the scale of the crisis — but expectations for concrete action remain muted.