The Cameroon Bar Association has broken its silence on the unfolding political tensions following the October 12 presidential election, strongly condemning incidents of post-election violence reported in parts of the country, particularly in the North.
In a statement signed by the Bar President, Barrister Mbah Eric Mbah, and released in Yaoundé on Monday, October 13, the Bar reaffirmed its role as the “guardian of the rule of law and defender of civil liberties,” while expressing deep concern over what it described as “excesses” and “intimidating declarations” observed since the close of the polls.
“The Bar Council condemns in the strongest terms the acts of post-electoral violence reported in certain regions of our country, particularly in the North, following the presidential election of October 12, 2025,” the communiqué stated.
Bar Denounces Intimidation and Dangerous Rhetoric
The Bar Association also took aim at what it called “institutional intimidation” and “malicious publications” circulating on social media, warning that such actions “threaten peace and erode public trust in democratic governance.”
Statement from Bar President.Barrister Mbah Eric emphasized that the post-election period must not become a stage for provocation or repression, but rather a moment to uphold constitutional procedures and democratic principles.
“The Bar calls for calm, restraint, and respect for legal procedures,” he urged, adding that “all stakeholders, particularly the electoral bodies ELECAM and the Constitutional Council, must demonstrate republican duty, integrity, and transparency in managing the process.”
A Call to Uphold the People’s Will
The Bar’s position aligns with growing calls from civil society and religious institutions for institutional restraint and transparency in the handling of the results. The communiqué underscored that the legitimacy of the next government depends on “the full respect of the people’s will as freely expressed through the ballot.”
“The will of the Cameroonian people, freely expressed in the polls on Sunday, October 12, 2025, must not only be heard but fully respected,” the Bar President insisted.
Safeguarding Democracy Amid Tension
Legal observers have praised the Bar’s intervention as a timely reminder that peace and justice cannot be separated from legality. The Bar’s statement, they note, underscores the vital role of independent institutions in steering Cameroon through what is shaping up to be one of its most delicate democratic moments in recent history.
As tensions simmer and official results remain awaited, the voice of the legal profession, impartial and rooted in constitutional duty, adds weight to the growing appeal for dialogue, transparency, and respect for the rule of law.
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