The Minister of Territorial Administration, Paul Atanga Nji, has set the stage for a highly controlled electoral environment ahead of Cameroon’s 2025 presidential elections.
Chairing the first biannual conference of regional governors on Wednesday, July 17, 2025, at the Yaounde City Council Hall, the Minister stated the government’s commitment to ensure order, transparency, and stability during the electoral process.
The gathering, placed under the theme, “The Challenge of Maintaining Public Order During the Electoral Period: For a Credible, Transparent, and Peaceful Presidential Election,” brought together senior state officials, regional governors, and top security operatives.
Its primary focus was to assess the country’s preparedness for the upcoming election and reinforce strategies for a secure and orderly process.
In his keynote address, Minister Atanga Nji underlined the significance of convening the conference 90 days before the polls.
He thanked the Secretary of State for the National Gendarmerie and the Delegate General for National Security for consistently supporting MINAT in ensuring public order and national stability.
Addressing the Governors, the Minister reminded them of their constitutional duty to maintain peace and order in their respective regions.
He urged them to exercise vigilance and leadership throughout the electoral period to guarantee a serene and credible election.
“Our population must feel the reassuring presence of the State,” he stated, adding that the government is firmly committed to a peaceful democratic process.
The Minister further instructed all administrative authorities to provide unconditional support to Elections Cameroon (ELECAM), the body in charge of organizing the election. He praised ELECAM’s professionalism and dedication.
The conference also served as a platform for the minister to address sensitive political developments.
In a remark, he took aim at a political party that boycotted the 2020 municipal and legislative elections.
Citing the Electoral Code, he clarified that the party’s absence from those elections renders it ineligible to present a candidate for the 2025 presidential race.
However, he acknowledged that a representative of the party may still seek endorsements from elected officials, as permitted by law.
He hailed the enduring peace and resilience of the nation, attributing Cameroon’s stability to the visionary leadership of President Paul Biya.
Drawing a historical parallel, he recalled the challenges of the 1992 presidential election and lauded the Head of State’s unwavering commitment to national unity and democratic progress.
On matters of security, Minister Atanga Nji warned against acts of incitement, hate speech, tribal propaganda, and attempts to destabilize the country.
He declared that any such acts during the electoral period will be met with firm and uncompromising legal action.
Protecting citizens and preserving public order, he stressed, remain non-negotiable obligations of the state.
Atanga Nji Attacks the Press Again
He also expressed deep concern over what he described as increasing media excesses, noting that certain programs have become platforms for undermining government actions, attacking national institutions, spreading tribal hatred, and promoting insurrectionist narratives.
He announced consultations with the president of the National Communication Council (NCC) and warned that severe sanctions will henceforth be imposed on media outlets found guilty of violating professional ethics and national cohesion.
The Minister has attacked the press on several occasions, including banning media reporting on the President’s health last year, after the President’s prolonged absence from the public.
At the meeting with governors, Atanga Nji reaffirmed that Cameroon remains a strong, sovereign, and stable nation.
“The train is moving,” he said, “and those who refuse to board will simply be left behind.”
The conference also featured a detailed security briefing delivered jointly by the Secretary of State for the National Gendarmerie and the Delegate General for National Security.
