By Joseph Besong
Washington, DC — In a pointed public statement, Senator Jim Risch, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has raised serious concerns about the credibility of the recent presidential election in Cameroon and called for a reassessment of the U.S.–Cameroon relationship. Risch accused the regime of President Paul Biya of staging a “sham re-election” and of detaining U.S. citizens among other abuses.
Election and contested results
The election, held on October 12, 2025, was followed by an official result announced by Cameroon’s top judicial body, the Constitutional Council of Cameroon, which declared Biya the winner with 53.66 % of the vote.At the same time, the main opposition challenger, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, claimed he had won and recorded roughly 54.8 % of votes, and rejected the official outcome.
Tchiroma and his coalition denounced the elections as rigged. They cited irregularities, delays, alleged ballot-stuffing and exclusion of voters in certain regions.
Protests, arrests and fatalities
Following the announcement, mass protests erupted in several cities including Douala, Garoua and Yaoundé. Reports indicate that at least four people were killed in clashes between security forces and protesters. Hundreds of arrests were reported, with dozens of opposition activists and organisers detained, including around thirty politicians and activists linked to Tchiroma’s campaign. Among those arrested were opposition coalition top members: Anicet Ekane and Djeukam Tchameni. In additional reports, law professor Aba’a Oyono (sometimes written Abah Oyono) has been arrested along with other senior opposition figures tied to the “Union for Change” coalition backing Tchiroma. Some of the detainees face the possibility of being tried by military tribunal, according to local media.
U.S. lawmakers react
- Congressman Jonathan Jackson issued a statement urging the Cameroonian authorities— including the electoral commission, judiciary and the Constitutional Council — to ensure full transparency, accountability and publication of credible results reflecting the will of the people.
- Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus‑McCormick condemned the killings and arbitrary arrests, emphasising that the right to peaceful protest and free expression “must be protected.”
- While a direct full public statement from Congressman Gregory Meeks on the elections is less documented, reports indicate he has expressed concern about internet blockages and crackdowns on protesters in Cameroon around the election period.
Significance of Risch’s statement
Risch’s remarks mark the most senior U.S. official (as chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee) to publicly question the outcome of Cameroon’s election in this cycle. His language—describing the regime as “corrupt,” enabling illicit activities, creating conditions for jihadist groups and terrorists, and jeopardising U.S. economic and security interests—signals a possible shift in Washington’s posture toward Yaoundé.
Long-standing U.S.–Cameroon ties and the strategic twist
Despite the criticism now being voiced, it remains important to note that Cameroon has traditionally enjoyed good relations with the U.S., especially given its strategic importance in the Gulf of Guinea region and in counter-terrorism operations. For example:
President Paul Biya attended the first edition of the United States–Africa Leaders Summit in August 2014 and again in December 2022.
In September 2025, the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) Commander accompanied by U.S. Ambassador Christopher John Lamora, met with President Biya at the State House, underscoring the solidity of ties between the two countries.
In advance of the election, such high-level visits and engagements indicate the importance the U.S. placed on its relationship with Cameroon; Biya is rarely known to grant audiences to foreign military commanders or ambassadors, so the meetings were noteworthy in the bilateral context.
