Cameroon: SDF Slams Unlawful Destruction of Olézoa Headquarters as Assault on Democracy

By Boris Esono Nwenfor

BUEA, Cameroon – One of Cameroon’s leading opposition parties, the Social Democratic Front (SDF) has condemned what they call the “illegal demolition of its regional headquarters located in the Olézoa District of Yaoundé.”

According to a press release issued by the party on June 18, immediately after the demolition, the destruction was allegedly carried out under the instructions of a senior officer of the National Gendarmerie. The move, which comes just three months ahead of Cameroon's critical presidential election, has been labelled by the party as "a serious act of intimidation" and "an attack on political freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution."

“This brutal action, three months before the presidential elections, once again illustrates the current regime's nervousness in the face of the growing power of the democratic opposition,” SDF said in a communiqué. “The SDF condemns in the strongest possible terms this serious act of intimidation, which constitutes a serious attack on the political freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution.”

According to reports, the SDF building was flattened without prior public notice. The SDF’s response was swift and defiant. “The party wishes to reassure its activists, supporters, and all justice-loving citizens: the SDF remains standing, mobilized, and more determined than ever to continue its fight for democratic change and victory in 2025," the SDF added.

The party has also reassured its activists and supporters that the destruction of physical infrastructure would not derail its political mission. The SDF has announced that its legal unit is actively working to investigate the incident, determine accountability, and initiate the necessary judicial proceedings. “Our legal unit is currently working to establish responsibilities, initiate the necessary prosecutions, and ensure the rule of law prevails.”

While the government has yet to issue an official statement regarding the demolition, civil society groups and political observers have voiced concerns about rising political tensions and the potential suppression of dissent in the lead-up to the 2025 polls. With opposition voices growing louder and more organized, observers warn that actions perceived as targeting political opponents could undermine public trust in the electoral process and democracy as a whole.