Bishop Lontsié-Keune of Bafoussam has publicly condemned alleged irregularities in the ongoing electoral process, warning that peace cannot emerge from what he calls a “toxic” political climate ahead of the October 12 presidential election. In a July 30 letter, the prelate denounced an environment marked by “lies, manipulation, intimidation, fear, denial of rights, injustice, corruption, vote buying, the instrumentalization of law, and its flexible interpretation for political ends.”

In his letter, Bishop Lontsié-Keune raised questions about the political atmosphere surrounding the presidential vote. He questioned whether the postponement of local elections from February 2025 to 2026 was merely administrative or a strategic maneuver. He also asked if controversies over “imperative mandate” and “representative mandate” aimed to sideline specific candidates.

The bishop further challenged the legitimacy of Elections Cameroon (Elecam) and the Constitutional Council’s nearly systematic rejection of appeals and complaints. These appeals, filed before and after the electoral roll was called, were often dismissed for “incompetence.” He questioned whether these decisions aligned with the Electoral Code’s provisions.

He also condemned repeated attacks on public freedoms. “We have observed all the systematic restrictions on the freedoms granted to citizens and political parties, as well as the shrinking of public space,” the bishop stated. “These actions, accompanied by threats, intimidation, and bans… do they signal democratic anxiety or a desire to silence the population?“

Bishop Lontsié-Keune warned of rising tribalism and hate speech in public discourse, particularly on social media. He believes this trend deepens social fractures and reinforces the “Divide and rule” mechanism.

He firmly reminded readers that “injustice can never bring peace, electoral fraud can never bring peace, lawlessness can never bring peace, fear can never bring peace. And the absence of political alternation lays the groundwork for future conflict, not for peace.“

His statement is one of several interventions by the Catholic Church regarding the upcoming vote. In February, Bishop Barthélemy Yaouda Hourgo (Yagoua) had already called for political alternation. Bishops Emmanuel Abo (Ngaoundéré) and Samuel Kleda (Douala) had also previously spoken out. In March, the National Episcopal Conference published a letter outlining the ideal president as a guarantor of justice, national unity, and respect for fundamental rights.

Source: Sbbc