Post-Election Violence: 15-Day Administrative Detention Handed Over 100 Protesters Arrested in Douala
The Governor of the Littoral Region, Samuel Dieudonné Ivaha Diboua, has signed a regional decree ordering the administrative detention of more than one hundred individuals accused of participating in violent demonstrations linked to the post-election unrest following the October 12 presidential polls.
According to the Regional Order issued on October 26, 2025, the individuals were allegedly involved in protests that erupted in Douala after a video circulated on social media by presidential candidate Issa Tchiroma Bakary calling for citizens to “rise against electoral injustice.”
The demonstrations reportedly escalated into confrontations with security forces, resulting in the destruction of police equipment, including a liaison vehicle belonging to the 6th District Public Security Commissariat.
The Governor’s decision, based on correspondence from the Regional Chief of Judicial Police, cites “necessities of service” as justification for the administrative measure.
The order authorizes the detention of the suspects for an initial period of fifteen (15) days, renewable, at the New Bell Central Prison in Douala.
The decree lists an extensive roster of names, over a hundred encompassing individuals from various backgrounds, including students, traders, and community members. Among them are Younossa Goni, Wassansa Maximilien, Boukar Oumate, Ngong Boris, and Nsime Ngolle Ruben, among others.
The detainees are accused of having “attacked security forces deployed on site” and “destroyed property committed to maintaining public order.”
In a clause that has sparked sharp criticism among human rights observers, Article 2 of the decree stipulates that the detainees will “bear their own expenses, including possible medical costs, throughout the duration of their custody.”
Legal experts and civic organizations in Douala have described this as a violation of basic rights under Cameroon’s Constitution and international norms governing detention conditions.
Governor Ivaha Diboua, a seasoned civil administrator and Grand Officer of the National Order of Valour, justified the move as a necessary step to “restore calm and protect public order” in a region that has seen rising tension since the announcement of the preliminary results.
“No democracy can thrive amid lawlessness,” a senior official from the Governor’s Office told reporters on condition of anonymity. “The state must act firmly to prevent anarchy.”
However, critics argue that the sweeping arrests represent an excessive response to legitimate political expression. Several opposition figures and civil society leaders have condemned the measure as part of a wider crackdown on dissent in the aftermath of a deeply contested election.
Human rights lawyer Claude M. Ewane called the order “a troubling throwback to the politics of fear,” noting that administrative detention without trial violates the presumption of innocence.
“This decree essentially criminalizes protest,” he said. “Many of those arrested may not have been involved in any violence, yet they are being punished collectively.”
The decree comes amid growing unrest in several cities across Cameroon following widespread allegations of electoral fraud.
Supporters of Issa Tchiroma Bakary, the National Salvation Front candidate, have accused authorities of manipulating results to maintain the status quo.
The Ministry of Territorial Administration has yet to issue an official statement regarding the Littoral arrests. However, sources indicate that similar detentions have been reported in the Centre and Far North regions.
As of Monday evening, security forces continued to patrol key intersections in Douala, particularly in the neighbourhoods of Akwa, Bonabéri, and Ndokoti, where sporadic clashes were reported over the weekend. The situation remains tense but relatively calm, with residents expressing a mix of fear and frustration.
For now, the 15-day administrative custody order represents one of the most sweeping mass detentions in the Littoral Region in recent years, a measure likely to test the government’s commitment to both public order and civil liberties in an already fragile post-election climate.
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