Dr. Marcelius Atanga a political observer, and an advocate for justice
By Dr. Marcelius Atanga
As Cameroon approaches the 2025 presidential elections—arguably the most pivotal in its post-independence history—the eyes of the world turn not only to the political elite in Yaoundé, but to the long-suffering people of the sovereign nation of Ambazonia. With over eight years of systemic repression, conflict, displacement, and neglect, our people have paid an unbearable price for daring to demand dignity, self-determination, and justice. Yet, within this crucible of crisis, there is a fire that refuses to be extinguished: the fire of hope.
The Truth in the Intelligence
Paul Biya’s announcement of his candidacy for an eighth term is not a symbol of democratic continuity—it is a signal that France, the longtime patron of the regime in Yaoundé, has once again found a way to facilitate and legitimize electoral fraud. This is not merely an internal affair; it is the perpetuation of colonial manipulation under the guise of republican sovereignty. The international community must no longer turn a blind eye to the complicity that sustains dictatorship.
Recent global intelligence and analytical reports from institutions such as the CIA, Oxford Analytica, Global Guardian, and Reuters have confirmed what Ambazonians have long known:
Paul Biya’s grip on power is fraying under the weight of age, elite defections, and deep-rooted systemic decay.
The 2025 elections are not simply a vote; they are a test of the legitimacy, stability, and future of Cameroon.
The Ambazonian war remains the single greatest threat to the country’s cohesion, yet it also offers a path forward if handled with justice and vision.
From the CIA’s early warnings in 1986, to Oxford Analytica’s observation of Biya’s fragile “coup-proofed” regime, to Global Guardian’s rating of Cameroon as an “extreme risk” zone in 2025, the international consensus is clear: change is not only inevitable, it is imperative.
Ambazonia’s Struggle is Just
In this defining moment, we must also call out those who, knowingly or unknowingly, undermine the sovereignty of Ambazonia. It is with deep disappointment that we rebuke Barrister Agbor Balla for his recent call urging Ambazonians to register and vote in the upcoming elections organized by the foreign regime in Yaoundé. Such appeals disregard the blood of our martyrs, the suffering of our displaced, and the aspirations of a people determined to chart their own destiny. Encouraging participation in the political processes of La République du Cameroun is not a gesture of peace—it is an act of surrender masked as pragmatism. We cannot build a free nation by legitimizing our occupiers.
We, the people of Ambazonia, are not calling for war; we are calling for recognition. We are not agents of chaos; we are seekers of justice. Let it be known: Ambazonia is not a monolith of rebellion, but a sovereign nation of teachers, farmers, doctors, clergy, and youth who yearn for schools that function, roads that are paved, courts that are fair, and lives that are free.
The examples of revolutionary leadership in Africa, such as Captain Ibrahim Traoré of Burkina Faso, show us that change led by conviction, sacrifice, and vision is not only possible—it is happening. His call for true independence and African dignity is echoed in our own cry for Ambazonian liberation.
To the International Community
We call on the African Union, the United Nations, the European Union, the United States, and Canada to move beyond statements of concern and engage in action:
Demand electoral transparency and access to polls for all Cameroonians, including those in occupied Ambazonian territories.
Push for mediated talks between the Cameroonian regime and legitimate Ambazonian representatives.
Investigate and sanction human rights abuses, including arbitrary arrests, media suppression, and military excesses.
The window for meaningful change is narrow, and neutrality in the face of injustice is complicity.
To Cameroonians Nationwide
Our struggle is not against you. It is against a system that denies you too—of better hospitals, of jobs for your children, of leaders who listen. The fractures within the ruling party, the widespread calls for electoral reform, and the brave voices rising from within the francophone regions prove that the desire for change is national, not regional.
We do not ask for your pity. We ask for your partnership.
The Way Forward
Hope for Ambazonia does not lie in the barrel of a gun or the smoke of burning villages. It lies in ballots cast freely, in journalists who speak truth without fear, in youth who lead protests with purpose, and in leaders who prefer dialogue to decree.
The 2025 elections are a reckoning. But they are also an opportunity.
Ambazonia will rise—not through division, but through unity; not through vengeance, but through vision.
Let the world take note. We are still here. We are still standing. And we are still hoping.
Dr. Marcelius Atanga is a political observer, advocate for justice, and proud son of Ambazonia.
