The day after the vote, unrest erupted in Garoua, and a police truck was set ablaze. Under ordinary circumstances, this would have provoked mass arrests, curfews, and military crackdowns. This time, no arrests were reported, and the regime’s heavy hand remained curiously light.
By Michel Bien Tong, Independent Contributor
The recent presidential election in Cameroon is less a democratic contest than a well-rehearsed political performance. All signs point to a drama scripted in Paris, staged with the complicity of Cameroonian secret services, and starring Issa Tchiroma in a carefully assigned role. Since the October 12 vote, a series of subtle yet telling events has exposed the contours of this political play.
Unusual Silence in Bamenda
During his campaign stop in Bamenda, Issa Tchiroma openly declared that he had reached out to an Ambazonian leader to request protection for his caravan. In a regime notorious for its ruthless persecution of anyone suspected of sympathizing with the Ambazonian movement, such an admission would normally have triggered immediate arrests or worse. Instead, there was total silence. Not a single reaction from the security services or the ruling establishment. This sudden restraint is the first red flag.
Garoua: A Controlled Outburst
The day after the vote, unrest erupted in Garoua, and a police truck was set ablaze. Under ordinary circumstances, this would have provoked mass arrests, curfews, and military crackdowns. This time, no arrests were reported, and the regime’s heavy hand remained curiously light. For a government accustomed to crushing dissent with speed and severity, this measured response stands out.
The Managed “Escape”
Shortly after, Cameroon’s counter-espionage agency, the DGRE, reportedly exfiltrated Issa Tchiroma to Nigeria, while simultaneously spreading rumors on social media about his supposed flight. This preemptive narrative seems designed to provide a ready-made excuse if he were to declare victory: that he cannot be arrested because he is “outside the country.” It is political theatre—an act prepared before the curtain rises.
Victory Speech Without Consequences
On October 14, Issa Tchiroma released a video on Facebook proclaiming himself the winner of the presidential election. In previous years, such a declaration would have been met with house raids, arrests, or swift silencing. This time, his homes were left untouched. Even Paul Atanga Nji, the hardline Minister of Territorial Administration, responded with a surprisingly soft and complacent statement. For a regime that has built its reputation on zero tolerance for defiance, this newfound gentleness is telling.
In One Word, It Speaks a Thousand
Issa Tchiroma is playing his role to perfection — the chief opposition figure who lends credibility to a predetermined outcome. His presence allows France to present to its domestic audience and the international community a convenient narrative: that the election unfolded in a climate of calm, tolerance, and democratic engagement, marred only by minor incidents. This story gives Paris the rhetorical cover it needs to congratulate its long-time ally Paul Biya and maintain its strategic hold over Cameroon.
Those rallying behind Issa Tchiroma may believe they are supporting change, but in reality, they are beautifying the façade of a political theatre. They have become unwitting actors in a script whose ending was written long before the first ballot was cast.
Michel Bien Tong,
