Following the declaration of war on Ambazonia on 30 September 2017, Ambazonians vowed not to participate in any further electoral exercises organized by the occupier.
Background
For the international community, it is important to understand the context behind Ambazonia’s firm stance. Since the invasion and subsequent occupation of Ambazonia (the former British Southern Cameroons) by La République du Cameroun in September 1961, the authorities in Yaoundé have repeatedly organized political exercises in the territory.
While the Republic of Cameroun refers to these events as elections, many Ambazonians view them as “selection exercises.” This is because, historically, such processes have been controlled by Yaoundé to identify and install local collaborators loyal to its regime rather than to reflect the will of the Ambazonian population. Over the decades, these exercises have consolidated annexation rather than genuine representation.
Following the declaration of war on Ambazonia on 30 September 2017, Ambazonians vowed not to participate in any further electoral exercises organized by the occupier. In response, the authorities in Yaoundé have adopted a twofold strategy:
Sponsoring or creating splinter groups claiming to represent Ambazonia, in an effort to weaken the legitimate Ambazonian government and sow confusion.
Supporting militias, often operating under the guise of Ambazonian self-defense groups, that collaborate with Cameroun’s army to influence local dynamics, including around electoral periods.
How Events Unfolded in October 2025
In the run-up to the October 11–12, 2025 exercise, the Republic of Cameroun monitored the activities of the Federal Republic of Ambazonia’s legitimate government under President Dr. Samuel Ikome Sako. Anticipating a boycott, Yaoundé activated its network of proxy groups and militias, which declared a prolonged lockdown lasting over a month.
Although Ambazonians do not view these groups as legitimate, they were forced to respect the lockdown out of fear, as these militias have committed atrocities in collaboration with the Camerounian army. Observers noted that this appeared to be a calculated strategy to exhaust the population, hoping that citizens would defy the official Ambazonian government’s own lockdown when the ‘selection’ weekend arrived.
However, this strategy failed. When the Ambazonian government issued its lockdown call for the October 11–12 weekend, the population overwhelmingly complied. Towns and villages were deserted. Streets fell silent. Ambazonians across the territory demonstrated their rejection not through confrontation, but through absence.
Meanwhile, the authorities in Yaoundé attempted to open certain areas. According to credible local reports, they gathered small groups of their citizens residing in Ambazonia into army barracks and administrative buildings to cast symbolic votes. Ballot-stuffing reportedly completed the process.
Contrasting Narratives
By the evening of October 12, state media in Yaoundé announced voter turnout figures, claiming successful participation across the country, including Ambazonia. Official statements described the exercise as “nationwide,” presenting figures that suggested involvement of Ambazonian towns.
However, independent evidence to support these claims was lacking. No major media outlet broadcast footage of voters in Ambazonia. Images of empty streets circulated widely on social media. International observers were either absent or severely restricted from accessing key locations, making independent verification difficult.
Ambazonian civil society groups, church leaders, and diaspora networks uniformly reported a near-total boycott, describing the weekend as a “ghost town” scenario across the territory.
The Message
The events of October 2025 conveyed a clear and deliberate message from the Ambazonian population: they reject the legitimacy of Cameroun’s electoral processes on Ambazonian soil.
Ambazonia is a territory under contested and internationally unresolved status, and many Ambazonians view participation in Camerounian elections as legitimizing an occupation they oppose. Their decision to boycott is both political and symbolic, reflecting their continued push for international recognition of their right to self-determination.
Conclusion
The contrasting narratives from Yaoundé and Ambazonia underscore the deep political divide that remains unresolved. Yaoundé continues to project normalcy through official figures and state media, while Ambazonians express rejection through organized boycotts, ghost towns, and non-participation.
For the international community, understanding this duality of narratives is essential. What Cameroun presents as an “election” is, in Ambazonia, perceived as an imposed political ritual under military occupation.
The boycott was not a mere abstention. It was a collective act of resistance against a political structure Ambazonians do not recognize, a message both to Yaoundé and to the world.
The Independentist news desk
