Cameroon faces considerable challenges, yet it remains well-equipped to foster social progress and encourage civic participation in the 2025 and 2026 elections, as noted by a high-ranking human rights official after a recent visit to the country.
Cameroon grapples with various complex human rights issues, but also enjoys significant opportunities, particularly with a youthful population—over 40 percent of its citizens are under 15—and an active civil society, the official remarked during a press conference in Yaoundé.
The official emphasized that the upcoming electoral process for the 2025 and 2026 elections is “a critical chance to enhance political inclusion and ensure the involvement of all segments of society.”
The human rights chief also noted that it provides an opportunity to ensure the unrestricted expression of political opinions by everyone.
Addressing various challenges
The human rights chief highlighted several critical challenges leading up to the election, including three concurrent security crises in different regions of the country: the ongoing issues in the northwest and southwest, marked by severe human rights violations and abuses; the impact of Boko Haram and related groups in the far north; and the effects of the Central African Republic crisis on the eastern region.
Cameroon, situated in an area deeply affected by the climate crisis, has been dealing with drought, irregular rainfall, and advancing desertification in the Lake Chad Basin, which have triggered conflicts, particularly between herding and farming communities. The country also faces a significant need for humanitarian support due to a large refugee population, with nearly one million people internally displaced as of June this year. Overall, 3.4 million individuals require humanitarian aid in a nation of approximately 28 million.
He called on the international community to come together and ensure that humanitarian needs are adequately funded.
Renewed appeal for investigation into rights abuses
Mr. Türk emphasized that peaceful protests that began in 2016 in the northwest and southwest regions have devolved into a severe crisis, involving confrontations between separatist groups, armed factions, and security forces. This has led to thousands of deaths, the displacement of hundreds of thousands, and more than 700,000 children being denied their education. He noted that reports of ongoing human rights violations persist, including killings, mistreatment, torture, ransom kidnappings, and restrictions on movement.
Mr. Türk condemned the separatist groups’ imposition of confinement days, which prevent children from going to school and people from accessing essential resources under the threat of violence. He called for independent, prompt, and transparent investigations, especially when state security forces are implicated.
Pre-election considerations
Highlighting the delicate nature of the period leading up to elections, the human rights chief urged political parties to openly support human rights and ensure an environment where civil society organizations and journalists can operate freely.
He emphasized the need for these groups to be able to monitor and report on electoral developments, in partnership with the Cameroon Human Rights Commission, and to address issues like hate speech and misinformation without facing threats or censorship.
Mr. Türk also expressed his expectation that Cameroon will continue to uphold universal human rights values in both national and international conversations on peace, security, and development.
