Cameroon’s Minister of Communication, René Emmanuel Sadi, has dismissed claims by opposition candidate Issa Tchiroma Bakary that he won the country’s presidential election, denouncing the declaration as an attempt to disrupt the nation’s electoral process.
Speaking in Yaoundé, Sadi said that only the Constitutional Council is legally empowered to declare election results, and warned political figures against making what he described as “false and inflammatory claims.” His comments came after Bakary, a former minister turned opposition leader, proclaimed himself winner of the October 13 vote, alleging widespread irregularities and vote rigging by the ruling party.
“The government calls for calm and respect for institutions,” Sadi said, emphasizing that “no individual or group has the authority to usurp the role of the electoral commission.”
Observers from the African Union and other international partners have reported a largely peaceful election but noted logistical challenges and limited transparency in some regions, particularly in the Anglophone areas.
Meanwhile, supporters of the opposition have staged peaceful protests, calling for a review of vote tallies and greater transparency. Analysts warn that the political standoff could deepen divisions in the Central African nation, which has faced years of unrest linked to separatist movements in the northwest and southwest regions.
