«Attempts To Disrupt Public Order Will Be Handled With All Firmness»

“The presidential election in Cameroon witnessed five major stages:

- Convening of the electorate, - Electoral campaign, - Voting on October 7, 2018, - Electoral litigations, - and the proclamation of results by the Constitutional Council.

Oath-taking by the Presidentelect, H.E. Paul Biya will crown the process that was held under fully satisfactory conditions and appreciated by most of the observers. The Head of State gave firm instructions to the administration to put in place optimal measures to secure the entire electoral process so that the election, the main one in the life of our country, should hold in total calm and serenity.

Elections Cameroon (ELECAM), the independent organ entrusted with the material organization of the presidential election, put in place all measures for the election to hold under the best conditions possible and in respect of internationally-acceptable standards.

These objectives were largely attained. Electoral campaign and the voting that followed took place without any major worry. It is however regrettable that before the presidential election and thereafter, a candidate undertook upon himself to make illegal and anti-constitutional declarations.

Notably proclaiming himself winner of the election even before the Constitutional Council, the only competent authority to do so, could act. Even as the said candidate after deciding to abide by the rules, notably petitioning the Constitutional Council before which he freely made known his arguments, he again derailed by contesting the verdict of the Constitutional Council, which is final. The candidate and his followers never stopped multiplying provocations and other dangerous acts on social peace by attempting to organize insurrections.

Many of their acts and declarations contravene existing laws of the land notably dispositions of the Penal Code and the Anti-terrorism law which punish acts like terrorism and incitation to rebellion. The people of Cameroon have thus far shown proof of maturity by not giving ear to the...