Prominent Cameroonian lawyer and activist Maître Michèle Ndoki has embarked on a strategic tour of the country’s three northernmost regions. These are the Far North, North, and Adamawa regions. Her aim is to mobilise citizens to join Disô. This is an ambitious electoral monitoring initiative led by civil society group Les Bâtisseurs de la Nation (The Nation Builders Movement).
The tour, which will run from April 6 to May 15, 2025, comes ahead of the upcoming presidential elections and seeks to engage local communities in safeguarding electoral transparency through active citizen participation.
“Our democracy depends on the vigilance of its people,” said Ndoki during the launch of the tour. “Disô is about reclaiming our right to free and fair elections by putting the power of oversight in the hands of ordinary Cameroonians.”
What is Disô?
Named after the word for “witness” or “sentinel” in several local Cameroonian dialects. The Disô project is therefore a grassroots electoral observation campaign. The initiative aims to recruit and train 10,000 volunteers. They will be deployed at a representative sample of polling stations nationwide during the presidential elections.
The initiative produces real-time, citizen-collected voting data that tracks voting patterns and identifies discrepancies, offering the public and international observers an early and independent picture of electoral outcomes.
“We are not here to replace institutions, but to empower citizens to complement them,” explained a spokesperson for Les Bâtisseurs de la Nation. “Disô is designed to promote transparency, build trust in the electoral process, and ensure the voice of every voter is respected.”
A Symbol of Resistance and Reform
Michèle Ndoki is no stranger to Cameroon’s struggle for democratic accountability. A seasoned lawyer and outspoken activist, she gained national prominence in the wake of the 2018 presidential elections, where she served as legal counsel for opposition figures challenging the results. In 2019, she was imprisoned for her role in peaceful protests—a move widely criticised by human rights organisations.
Since her release, Ndoki has remained a central figure in civic activism, using her voice and legal acumen to promote rule of law, electoral justice, and gender equality. Her work with Les Bâtisseurs de la Nation marks a strategic shift from protest to proactive institution-building.
“I believe in a Cameroon where elections are not a source of fear but of hope,” Ndoki told a group of students in Garoua. “This tour is about finding those who share that vision and are ready to act on it.”
Building a Movement from the Ground Up
Les Bâtisseurs de la Nation is a relatively young but increasingly influential civic platform. Launched by four founding members, it has quickly become a coalition of lawyers, teachers, engineers, and grassroots organisers. The movement seeks to rebuild public trust in democratic institutions through civic education, legal empowerment, and participatory monitoring.
The Disô initiative represents the movement’s most ambitious project to date. Organisers are placing a strong emphasis on inclusivity, encouraging participation from all regions, age groups, and linguistic communities.
“The strength of Disô is in its diversity,” said Nathalie Yakam, one of the founding members. “We want young people, women, elders—everyone who believes in the future of this country—to be part of it.”
What’s Next?
After her northern tour, Ndoki will continue her national mobilisation campaign in other regions of Cameroon. Her aim will be to reach the 10,000-volunteer target before the official start of the presidential election season.
Volunteers will undergo training sessions focused on electoral law, observation techniques, and reporting procedures. They will compile and analyse the data independently, and they expect to share the results within 24 hours of the vote.
Get Involved
Cameroonians interested in joining the initiative or learning more about the movement can visit the official website at lesbatisseurs-cm.com.
As the country prepares for what may be one of the most consequential elections in recent history, voices like Michèle Ndoki’s are reminding citizens that the integrity of the ballot box begins with them.
“Cameroon does not lack courage,” she said. “It just needs more spaces where that courage can shine.”
