By Nformi Sonde Kinsai
The Minister of External Relations, MINREX, Le Jeune Mbella Mbella has pointed out that “Cameroon shall not elect its President of the Republic under pressure from any group, country, power, international organisation or institution whatsoever.”
He was addressing diplomats accredited to Yaounde on July 30 in prelude to the presidential election billed for October 12, 2025 in Cameroon.
In a diplomatic statement presented at the briefing, Mbella Mbella noted further: “similarly, the President of the Republic shall not be elected under the influence of any ethnic group, tribe, language, community, cultural background, religious denomination or any other entity whatsoever.
“The President of the Republic shall be elected by the people of Cameroon, as a whole, united in its diversity, a country that remains one and indivisible amidst this diversity.
“It is therefore our collective responsibility and our shared commitment to the international conventions that govern our relations with bilateral and multilateral partners, as well as the corollary obligations in terms of protecting diplomatic and consular personnel and property,” he told the diplomats.
He said Cameroon’s diplomatic missions and consular posts are fully mobilised to facilitate voting abroad for its compatriots’ resident in the respective countries. He reiterated government’s gratitude for the reception and hospitality the diaspora continues to enjoy in the said nations.
Stating that on the account of its strategic location at the crossroads of two major regional economic communities notably Central and West Africa, Cameroon should continue to foster a peaceful and secure climate, conducive for stability, prosperity, and sustainable development in the Gulf of Guinea.
“Therefore, I urge your respective countries, the UN System, the African Union, the European Union, the Organisation of Islamic Countries, the Francophonie, the Commonwealth and other solidarity circles to stand by our country in this process,” Mbella Mbella appealed.
According to him, “…the calm and sense of responsibility prevailing is the outcome of the tireless and determined efforts of the government, the unwavering sense of patriotism and citizenship and active commitment of the people of Cameroon in its entirety, with the valuable support of the partners that you are,” the diplomats were told.
Mbella Mbella revisited the presidential decree of July 11, 2025 convening the electorate noting that the election is governed by the law notably the electoral code of 19 April 2012. Stating that ELECAM and the Constitutional Council are the main stakeholders for the crucial political moment for the nation, he said compatriots in the diaspora were since 2011 given the right to vote in presidential elections and as such, they shall be voting for the third time come October 12. To him, the process of voter registration and list revision by ELECAM was conducted satisfactorily in the ten regions and in the countries covered by Cameroon’s diplomatic network.
The diplomatic briefing was equally an occasion for the Minister to talk about the enthusiasm amongst the public and political class surrounding the election. He explained that in line with the law, ELECAM has published the list of presidential hopefuls thus paving the way for the constitutional council to handle any pre-election matters. After this stage, the final list of candidates for the October 12 polls will be known.
He said all the stakeholders have been urged to act responsibly to ensure that the peace prevails before, during, and after the election. He quoted President Paul Biya for having declared continually that: “we shall all pass away, but Cameroon shall remain.”
To Mbella Mbella, “Cameroon, a country governed by the rule of law, in compliance with its international commitments and building on its diversity, has relentlessly fostered the spirit of harmonious living together. Upholding these values will guarantee the holding of a peaceful and multiparty presidential election, both at the domestic and international levels,” he averred.