Amid Post-Election Repression: Tchiroma, Self-Declared President-Elect, Appeals to Cameroon’s Youth from Exile

Issa Tchiroma Bakary, Self-Proclaimed Cameroon's President-Elect.

Issa Tchiroma Bakary, who has declared himself Cameroon’s president-elect following the contested 2025 elections, has issued an address to Cameroonian youth, denouncing post-election repression and promising what he described as the beginning of a generational transition.

In a written statement dated February 11, 2026, Tchiroma said young people have borne the brunt of political violence since the October 2025 vote, citing deaths, injuries, arrests and more than 2,500 detentions linked to protests demanding the right to choose their future.

The address specifically referenced the death of Justin Hara, a young man who died in custody after being arrested during post-election crackdowns. Tchiroma expressed condolences to Hara’s family and others affected by the unrest, stating that those responsible for abuses would eventually be held accountable.

“A country that is young cannot move forward by blocking its youth,” Tchiroma said, arguing that limited access to opportunity, entrenched leadership, and lack of merit-based advancement have stalled national progress and deepened frustration among young citizens.

Positioning himself as a leader focused on action rather than promises, Tchiroma outlined broad priorities he said would guide a generational shift in governance. These include transparent rules, real access to responsibility for young people, support for job-creating initiatives, and an emphasis on entrepreneurship, digital innovation, modern agriculture, and vocational training.

The self-proclaimed president-elect also hinted at an upcoming political initiative aimed at empowering citizens, particularly youth. He described it as a framework that would allow people to organize, speak freely, and exert meaningful influence in public life, though he provided no further details.

Writing from exile following the 2025 post-election crisis, Tchiroma ended the address on a defiant note, recalling his resistance to intimidation. “I am Tchiroma. I do not bow. I do not retreat. I do not betray,” he said.

Cameroon remains deeply divided in the aftermath of the disputed elections, with authorities rejecting Tchiroma’s claim to electoral victory and maintaining security measures in several parts of the country. His message underscores ongoing efforts by opposition figures to mobilize the country’s largely youthful population amid continued political uncertainty.