France has voiced deep concern over the escalating violence in Cameroon, condemning what it described as “excessive repression” of opposition protests that have rocked the country since the announcement of President Paul Biya’s disputed re-election.

In a strongly worded statement released by the French Foreign Ministry on Wednesday, Paris urged Cameroonian authorities to guarantee the safety, dignity, and fundamental freedoms of their citizens warning that continued brutality could further destabilize the fragile Central African nation.

“We believe it is essential that democracy, fundamental freedoms, and the rule of law be scrupulously respected,” the statement read.
“All individuals arbitrarily detained since the beginning of the electoral process must be released to preserve national cohesion.”

The statement marks one of the most direct condemnations from France Cameroon’s former colonial power since Biya’s controversial victory in the October 12 presidential election, which opposition groups have rejected as a “farce.”

Widespread Outrage Over Crackdown

What began as peaceful demonstrations against alleged vote-rigging has spiraled into a wave of violent unrest, with reports of police shootings, mass arrests, and indiscriminate beatings of civilians.

According to Stand Up for Cameroon, a local civil rights organization, at least 23 people have been killed since the weekend, while hundreds more have been injured or detained.

Videos circulating on social media some verified by international outlets show security forces firing live bullets into crowds, dragging injured protesters through the streets, and storming residential neighborhoods in search of opposition sympathizers.

“The repression is systematic,” said Marie Nguemo, a lawyer and human rights advocate in Douala. “People are being arrested in their homes, others are missing, and hospitals are overwhelmed with gunshot victims. The government is trying to crush dissent through fear.”

Biya’s Shadow Looms Large

At 92 years old, President Paul Biya remains one of the world’s oldest and longest-serving leaders, having ruled Cameroon since 1982. His government announced his eighth consecutive term in office after a disputed vote that many international observers say lacked transparency.

Critics accuse Biya of weaponizing state institutions, manipulating electoral laws, and silencing opponents to cling to power. His reelection has widened existing cracks in a country already struggling with separatist conflicts, corruption, and economic stagnation.

For many Cameroonians, Biya’s latest term represents not stability, but suffocation.

“This is not democracy,” said a university student in Yaoundé, who declined to be named. “It’s the same old story intimidation, fraud, and violence. We are tired of living in fear.”

Opposition Defiance Grows

Leading the resistance is Issa Tchiroma Bakary, the presidential challenger from the Cameroon National Salvation Front (FSNC). Tchiroma has vowed to continue nationwide protests, describing Biya’s victory as “an insult to the will of the people.”

“The truth of the ballot is clear we won this election by a large majority,” Tchiroma said in a televised address late Tuesday. “This victory belongs to the Cameroonian people. We will resist until the final victory.”

His message has resonated among the youth and the urban poor, many of whom see the opposition as their last hope for political renewal. Yet, every attempt to demonstrate has been met with tear gas, live ammunition, and sweeping arrests.

Government officials have accused Tchiroma of inciting violence and attempting to destabilize the country. Interior Minister Paul Atanga Nji dismissed the opposition’s claims, describing them as “reckless and irresponsible propaganda.”

“This candidate, intoxicated by ambition, has encouraged civil unrest through social media,” Nji said in a press briefing. “The government will not tolerate attempts to destroy national peace.”

France’s Delicate Position

France’s statement places President Emmanuel Macron’s government in a diplomatic tightrope. For decades, Paris has maintained close and often controversial ties with Yaoundé, balancing economic interests and military cooperation with growing pressure to uphold human rights.

Cameroon is a key ally in France’s security strategy in Central Africa, particularly in countering Islamist insurgencies around the Lake Chad Basin. Yet, France now faces mounting criticism for what activists call its “silence in the face of tyranny.”

“France cannot keep preaching democracy abroad while shielding dictators it helped create,” said Jean-Benoît Essomba, a Cameroonian political scientist based in Paris. “If Macron is serious about values, then Biya’s repression must be condemned not tolerated.”

Calls for International Action

Human rights organizations have urged the African Union (AU) and the United Nations to intervene and pressure Biya’s government to stop the killings and respect civil liberties.

The European Union also expressed concern earlier this week, calling for restraint from both protesters and security forces, while warning that “any further escalation will have dire humanitarian consequences.”

Meanwhile, the United States Embassy in Yaoundé has issued a security alert, advising its citizens to avoid demonstrations and “shelter in place” amid fears of more violence.

“Cameroon is standing at a crossroads,” said Dr. Faith Alonge, a West African regional analyst. “The international community must act before the situation deteriorates into a full-blown crisis. The longer Biya relies on force, the weaker his legitimacy becomes.”

A Nation on Edge

As the sun set over Douala on Wednesday night, the streets were eerily quiet the silence punctuated by the distant sound of military trucks patrolling the neighborhoods.

Residents say fear now dictates daily life. The internet remains heavily restricted, journalists face intimidation, and entire districts have been placed under curfew.

“We can’t even step outside after dark,” said one shopkeeper. “We don’t know who to trust anymore the police or the people.”

For many Cameroonians, the message from Paris offers a rare glimmer of hope that the world is watching. But whether words will translate into meaningful action remains uncertain.

For now, Cameroon remains trapped between defiance and despair a country yearning for change, but haunted by a leader who refuses to let go.