Bertin Kisob, National President of the Cameroon Party for Social Justice (CPSJ) and longtime political prisoner of the Anglophone crisis, has issued a passionate appeal to Ambazonian leaders, urging them to suspend the planned lockdown on October 11, 12, and 13 to allow the population of the North West and South West regions to participate in the presidential election.
In an open letter from his cell at the Kondengui Central Prison, Kisob framed the October 12 polls as a rare opportunity to bring political change to Cameroon after more than four decades of President Paul Biya’s rule.
“This presidential election is a godsend for us, because for the first time, after a very long period, the people of Cameroon have the possibility of changing president,” Kisob wrote.
“The old dictator has done a lot of harm for 43 years… The Cameroonian people have chosen a consensual candidate for this, in the person of Issa Tchiroma Bakary.”
Kisob, who has been imprisoned since 2017 for what he describes as his revolutionary stance against the regime, argued that a boycott would only strengthen Biya’s grip on power. He claimed to have reached an understanding with Issa Tchiroma Bakary, promising that the opposition candidate, if victorious, would release all prisoners of the Anglophone crisis and begin direct negotiations with separatist leaders.
“By letting our people vote on October 12 we can prevent fraud in our territory,” Kisob stated. “Issa Tchiroma will win this election, but Biya will be declared the winner if we allow the boycott to give them an excuse.”
Known for his fiery rhetoric, Kisob urged Ambazonian leaders to think strategically rather than emotionally, invoking his decades of revolutionary experience:
“In revolution, we do not think with emotions but with strategic coldness and boldness… The Devil called Tchirouma can become a Godsend saviour if you have eyes to see. Politics and revolution na Njangi, we must think like revolutionary leaders, not emotional babies.”
The letter is already sparking reactions across social media, with some activists hailing Kisob’s call as a pragmatic step toward ending the crisis, while hardline separatists insist that participating in Cameroon’s electoral process would betray the cause of independence.
As the October 12 election approaches, Kisob’s appeal highlights the growing tension between those calling for dialogue and political engagement and those advocating for continued resistance.
Whether Ambazonian factions heed his call to lift the lockdown remains to be seen, but the stakes are high not just for the election outcome, but for the prospects of peace in the restive regions.
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