In a declaration issued from the Archdiocese of Douala, Archbishop Samuel Kleda has broken his silence on the political and social unrest that has swept Cameroon since the proclamation of the results of the October 12 presidential election.
The senior prelate in a four page document on Saturday November 1, 2025 condemned the violence, denounced the injustices that followed the vote, and urged the government and citizens alike to seek truth, justice, and reconciliation.
In the document titled “Declaration on the Proclamation of the Presidential Election Results and the Post-Electoral Violence,” Bishop Kleda described the election as a moment of hope, a “kairos,” or favorable time when many Cameroonians believed change was possible.
“We have, by a very large majority, expressed our deep desire for renewal,” he wrote, “by choosing the leader we believed capable of satisfying the great hunger and quenching the immense thirst of the Cameroonian people.”
However, the archbishop said that the official proclamation of results dashed those hopes for many. “Numerous citizens who expected a better future are now convinced that their choice was not respected. Their disappointment is immense,” he stated, calling on the nation’s leaders to reflect deeply on the consequences of the current situation.
A Call for an End to Violence
Archbishop Kleda acknowledged that the post-election demonstrations began peacefully but lamented that they quickly degenerated into acts of vandalism, looting, and destruction across several cities, including Douala, Garoua, Maroua, Bertoua, and Dschang.
He deplored the resulting loss of life, arbitrary arrests, and the continuing climate of intimidation. “It is indispensable that these violences, intimidations, arrests, and assassinations come to an end,” he declared.
“Cameroon should not be a land of confrontation between the government and its people after every presidential election. Democracy cannot coexist with gunfire, threats, and arbitrary detentions. One does not govern a people with weapons.”
A Harsh Diagnosis of Social Misery
Beyond the political turmoil, Archbishop Kleda painted a grim picture of the country’s socio-economic condition, citing alarming figures: an unemployment rate of 74%, a poverty rate of 37.7%, and more than 10 million citizens living on less than 1,000 CFA francs a day. “The deep Cameroon cries out its suffering and misery,” he said. “Our compatriots are hungry because they have no work.”
He warned that the despair of the youth, the widespread poverty, and the massive exodus of Cameroonians seeking better opportunities abroad are symptoms of a systemic crisis. “A people that takes to the streets to cry out its despair expresses a rupture and calls the conscience of its leaders to account,” he added.
An Appeal for National Reflection and Renewal
The archbishop urged authorities to listen to the grievances of the population and to address the root causes of discontent: poor governance, corruption, inequality, unemployment, and the misuse of national resources. He asked whether the end of this electoral cycle would finally bring “a real, significant, and effective improvement in the living conditions of Cameroonians.”
“The preservation of peace and stability in our country,” he wrote, “depends on our collective awareness of the crises that are causing suffering and our determination to find appropriate solutions.”
Faith and Hope Amid Turmoil
Archbishop Kleda concluded his message with a spiritual appeal, invoking divine guidance for both leaders and citizens: “May the Holy Spirit enlighten our leaders and the Cameroonian people, and may the Virgin Mary, Patroness of Cameroon, intercede for us.”
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