By Nfor Tracy
In an act of peaceful protest , large parts of Cameroon have begun observing a three day lockdown initiated by the opposition party member, Issa Tchiroma.
For something that most could not believe will be successful, turned out to be massively supported. In some areas, tension escalated as police tried to seal shops leading to confrontation with traders. In Banyo, traders drove away police with stones, while in Bafoussam, the streets of Marche À and Kamkoo were completely deserted. Meanwhile the UDC lawmakers staged a protest in front of the National assembly to denounce the injustice suffered by Cameroonians.
The protest can be drawn from the October 12 presidential election which has two competing narratives:
The Official Result: The Cameroon Constitutional Council, declared long-term incumbent Paul Biya the winner with 53.66% of the vote . The council criticized the opposition for “anticipating the result” and affirmed the electoral process was peaceful .
The Opposition’s Claim: Just days after the polls closed, opposition candidate Issa Tchiroma Bakary unilaterally declared himself the victor . He urged Biya to concede, stating, “The people have chosen, and this choice must be respected” . The opposition and civil society groups point to tally sheets posted from polling stations that appeared to show Tchiroma prevailing by a convincing margin .
The President Elect, Issa Tchiroma ‘s declaration of a nationwide lockdown directly challenges the state’s authority. The government, led by Minister of Territorial Administration Paul Atanga Nji, has maintained that only the Constitutional Council has the authority to announce election results .
Yet, the effectiveness of the “ghost town” protest does not rely on state power, but on the voluntary compliance of the people. According to reports from late October , “people are no longer willing to be cowed by repression” . By choosing to stay home, close their shops, and suspend their economic activities, citizens are making a political statement.