Sema Fonkem 09/11/2025

92 years old president Paul Biya’s victory during the October 12 2025 election is no surprise. Every thoughtful Cameroonian knew what the outcome would be.

Biya’s 53.7% victory against Issa Tchiroma’s 35.2% will keep him in power for another seven-year 8th term to be completed near his centenary celebration.

like I said, Biya’s victory is no surprise but Tchiroma’s rise to the ballot box is.

Who is Issa Tchiroma? The man who suddenly became Biya’s main challenger.

79 years old Tchiroma who is a politician, former railway engineer, Minister of Employment and Vocational Training from 2019 to 2025, Minister of Communication from 2009 to 2019 and Minister of Transport from 1992 to 1996 was born on September 10 1946.

In 2007, Tchiroma formed the Front for the National Salvation (FNSC) party under which he ran for presidency during the October 2025 election.

How Tchiroma used a party (FNSC) which he abandoned 16 years ago to run for election without any known rivalry with a regime he has served since 2009 is a mystery.

In my opinion, Tchiroma was not a main challenger or a strong opposition as most of mainstream media puts it. I say so because Tchiroma has no grounds on the regional, provincial and national levels. He has no seats in parliament. He simply took advantage of the fact that Cameroonians needed a heroe after Maurice Kamto’s disgraced political career.

If Tchiroma really won the election, calling for a three-day lockdown or “dead city” as he puts it comes across as very unambitious. He simply allowed Biya to have a peaceful inauguration.

“Let the entire country come to a standstill, so that the whole world knows that we are resisting and that we will not yield. Let us keep our shops closed, suspend our activities, remain at home, in silence, to demonstrate our solidarity and to remind this regime that the strength of an economy is its people.” Tchiroma said in a video shared across social media

The truth of the matter is that Tchiroma understands the law and he knows that under the 2014 anti-terrorism law and the penal code, serious offenses such as rebellion, insurrection, and attempted insurrection can carry severe penalties, including long-term imprisonment, life imprisonment, and potentially the death penalty. 

The death of 48 Cameroonians during the protests could add as Tchiroma’s crimes against humanity if it can be proven that he led civilians to a violent protest that cost their lives.

Yes, I know that law enforcement killed the protesters, which is also a criminal act but let’s focus on Issa Tchiroma.

It is ideal to acknowledge how far a government deemed corrupt can go to protect and hold its power if a person must become an expert in pointing out the side effects of greed.

Cameroonians have protested to declare their lack of interest in Biya’s leadership but not for Tchiroma’s self-proclaimed victory.

This is the first time I have seen a protest without a protest map which guides protesters on what routes to take or buildings to occupy if need be.

Misguided, protesters have destroyed private properties of hardworking and law abiding citizens instead attacking infrastructures owned by corrupt politicians as seen in Tanzania.

Tchiroma’s declaration of “the two presidents” nation without the courage to call out president Paul Biya’s name as the other president appointed by the Constitutional Council is laughable.

“There are two presidents- The president elected by the Cameroonian people (me) and the president appointed by the Constitutional Council (Whom you know).” He wrote on social media on Wednesday, October 05 2025.

Claim by Issa Tchiroma that he is being guarded by a loyalist faction of the military has not been confirmed by any government official.

It is believed across social media that the soldiers seen around Tchiroma are acting as guards to deceive Cameroonians into believing that there is hope for a takeover.

The Cameroonian post-election tragedy short film continues…