Top members of the United States Congress have strongly condemned what they describe as fraudulent elections in Cameroon and Tanzania, accusing both governments of violence, repression, and lack of transparency.
However, the Trump administration has stayed silent, a decision that many say shows Washington’s loss of interest in defending democracy in Africa.
In 2018, the US quickly raised concerns over irregularities in Cameroon’s election. “These irregularities may not have affected the outcome but created an impression that the election was not credible or genuinely free and fair,” said former State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert at the time.
Seven years later, there has been no official reaction after Paul Biya, now 92 years old, was declared winner of a controversial eighth term in power. The vote was marked by violence, intimidation, and killings during post-election protests.
In Tanzania, President Samia Suluhu Hassan also secured another term after elections that left several people dead. Yet the US embassies in both countries have only issued security warnings instead of speaking on the credibility of the polls.
With the US government quiet, lawmakers in Congress, both Republicans and Democrats have decided to take a stand.
“Cameroon is not a US partner, and poses economic and security risks to the American people,” said Senator James Risch, the Republican chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “It’s time to reassess this relationship before the blowback gets worse.”
He accused the Biya regime of corruption and repression, saying it “hunts its political opponents, enables Wagner’s illicit activities, and has created conditions for jihadist groups like Boko Haram and ISIS to thrive.” Risch also raised concern about the unlawful detention of American citizens in Cameroon.
The top Democrat on the committee, Senator Jeanne Shaheen, focused her criticism on Tanzania. “Tanzania’s ruling party has endangered the safety of its citizens and tourists in the country,” she said. “After these fraudulent elections, the US-Tanzania relationship must be reviewed.”
In the US House of Representatives, lawmakers also expressed concern over the situation in Cameroon.
“The US’ longstanding partnership with Cameroon is rooted in shared values, including respect for democracy and human rights,” said Representative Jonathan Jackson. “I am concerned by reports of limited political freedoms, restrictions on civil society and the media, and voter disenfranchisement in conflict-affected regions.”
Another member, Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, condemned the killings and arrests of protesters. “There is no place for violence in democracy,” she said. “The right to peaceful protest and free expression are fundamental and must be protected.”
US Policy Shift Under Trump
The Trump administration’s silence is part of a wider change in its foreign policy. Reports say Secretary of State Marco Rubio has weakened the department in charge of democracy and human rights, instructing diplomats not to comment on whether elections are fair or legitimate.
Human rights advocate Jeffrey Smith from Vanguard Africa warned that this approach will “further embolden Biya and other autocrats across the region.”
“This is a critical moment for Africa’s democratic trajectory,” he said. “The US State Department’s silence is dangerous.”
Analysts say Washington’s silence could encourage more authoritarianism across Africa. For Cameroon, it raises questions about whether the US still stands for the democratic values it once defended.
