The Cameroon National Salvation Front (CNSF) has issued a forceful denial of reports that it will participate in upcoming regional elections, declaring it cannot legitimise a political process amid a “national mourning” and “major post-election crisis.”
The statement, released by the party on November 27, 2025, comes in response to an article in the publication L’Œil du Sahel that claimed the opposition group would take part in the polls.
“In the current context of national mourning, profound moral turmoil, and a major post-election crisis, the CNSF cannot afford to normalise any form of institutional activity,” the communique read, referring to a recent presidential election.
The CNSF stated the country is emerging from an electoral process “marked by massive fraud, the confiscation of the popular verdict, and bloody repression.” It argued that participating in elections organised by what it calls “contested institutions” would be to “legitimise disorder and turn our backs on the sacrifice of those who fell for democracy.”
The party, under the leadership of Issa Tchiroma Bakary, reaffirmed that its focus remains on “popular legitimacy, historical justice, and the moral reconstruction of our country.” The communique ended with a salute to those working to restore truth and people’s sovereignty, stating that “no distraction” would divert them from their course.
The CNSF’s statement reflects the ongoing political tensions in Cameroon following the recent presidential election. Official results from that election extended the decades-long rule of incumbent President Paul Biya.
The CNSF, led by former government minister Issa Tchiroma, has positioned itself as a leading opposition force, consistently rejecting the official election results and alleging widespread fraud. The party’s boycott of the regional elections deepens the country’s political stalemate and challenges the legitimacy of the electoral process orchestrated by the current government. Regional elections are intended to implement a key part of Cameroon’s decentralisation efforts, but major opposition boycotts threaten to undermine their representative credibility.
