Subject: Urgent Call to Defend Democracy, Human Dignity, and Regional Stability in Cameroon
To: President Donald J. Trump
From: Dr. Marcelius Atanga
Former President, University of Buea Students’ Union, Human Rights Advocate | Voice of the Voiceless | Advocate for the Right to Self-Determination in Ambazonia
Dear President Trump,
I extend my highest regards and write to you as a committed advocate for peace, justice, and democratic accountability — and as someone speaking on behalf of millions whose voices remain silenced by fear, repression, and systemic injustice. Cameroon today stands at a historic turning point. The events surrounding the October 12, 2025 presidential election have raised grave concerns about constitutional legitimacy, democratic governance, and the stability of a region already strained by a decade-long armed conflict in Ambazonia (Southern Cameroons).
Your record — particularly your insistence on electoral integrity, national sovereignty, and the right of peoples to choose their own leaders — inspires many across Africa who believe that global powers can still play a constructive role in discouraging tyranny and encouraging peaceful outcomes. It is in this spirit that I write to you.
A Disputed Election and a Nation in Crisis
Independent monitoring institutions — including the Catholic Church, widely regarded as the most credible neutral civic body in Cameroon — documented results indicating a dramatic discrepancy between the official figures released by Yaoundé and the ballot tallies transmitted by observers. Their findings suggest that the official declaration of victory does not reflect the will of the electorate.
This is not merely an internal political dispute. It is part of a long pattern of: corruption and manipulation of electoral institutions, state-orchestrated intimidation and violence, the imprisonment of political opponents, and the closure of civic space, all of which have steadily eroded public trust in the Cameroonian state.
Why This Matters for Ambazonia and the Region
For the people of Ambazonia, whose legal and historical right to self-determination has been consistently denied since 1961, this moment carries even deeper significance.
A regime that cannot secure democratic legitimacy through transparent elections cannot credibly claim legitimacy over a people with a distinct international status and a long-standing dispute over sovereignty.
The crisis in Cameroon is therefore not only a national political problem; it is a security issue, a human rights concern, and a destabilizing factor for the entire Gulf of Guinea region.
A Call for Your Leadership and Moral Voice
Mr. President,
Your voice carries weight. When you speak, the world listens — especially in regions where people have grown accustomed to being ignored by the international community. I respectfully request that you:
- Call for an independent, internationally supervised audit of the October 2025 election. Such a step would send a powerful signal that democratic legitimacy must be earned, not manufactured.
- Urge the Cameroonian authorities to release all political detainees and end violent repression. Peace cannot grow in the shadow of fear.
- Encourage constructive dialogue between the Cameroonian state and the Ambazonian leadership. A decade of conflict has proven that military force cannot resolve a political and historical dispute. Only good-faith negotiation, grounded in international law, can.
- Support the principle that the people of Ambazonia, like any other people, have the right to determine their political future freely and without coercion. This is consistent with the values you have championed globally — sovereignty, self-determination, and the rejection of foreign domination.
A Plea for Human Dignity
At the heart of this crisis are ordinary people: mothers who bury their children, youth who face detention for simply holding an opinion, villages displaced by conflict, and millions who feel abandoned by a system that no longer hears them. They look to voices like yours for hope, solidarity, and moral clarity.
Conclusion
Mr. President, your engagement could help shine light on a crisis the world has too often chosen to ignore. A principled stance from you would not only encourage democratic accountability in Cameroon but also open the door to lasting peace between Cameroon and Ambazonia.
I thank you for your time, your leadership, and your continued commitment to justice and freedom.
Respectfully,
Dr. Marcelius Atanga
