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By Hippolyte Ikome
The Metropolitan Archbishop of Douala, Most Reverend Samuel Kleda, has spoken out forcefully on the political situation in Cameroon following the controversial proclamation of the October 12 presidential results.
In his statement, Archbishop Kleda described the election as a lost opportunity for change, accusing the regime of having confiscated the people’s will. “Many citizens have become firmly convinced that their choice was not respected,” he wrote, lamenting “the immense disappointment” of a population whose vote was “ignored and despised.”
The archbishop denounced the post-election violence, mass arrests, and killings of young people reported in cities including Douala, Garoua, Maroua, Bertoua, and Dschang, following peaceful demonstrations. He strongly condemned the government’s heavy-handed response:
“Democracy cannot coexist with gunfire, threats, arbitrary arrests, and the intimidation of citizens who think differently. One does not organize an election to kill fellow citizens. One cannot govern a people with weapons.”
Archbishop Kleda called on authorities to end the violence and address the deep-rooted causes of the national crisis, pointing to widespread misery, unemployment, and corruption. Citing alarming figures—37.7% poverty rate and 74% unemployment—he painted a picture of “a nation in distress, with no sign of hope on the horizon,” where over six million Cameroonians have fled into exile.
With a tone both pastoral and direct, the archbishop urged leaders to undergo moral and political conversion, reminding them that “no government can govern without the people.” He warned that the growing despair among citizens is a call to conscience:
“When a people take to the streets to cry out their despair, they are calling upon the conscience of their leaders.”
Archbishop Samuel Kleda, a respected and outspoken figure within the Cameroonian clergy, has long been known for his bold criticism of corruption, social injustice, and political repression. His previous interventions have sparked both admiration and hostility from the country’s ruling elite.
This new statement comes amid a wave of post-election repression, including arbitrary arrests of students and activists, and growing public frustration with the rule of President Paul Biya, in power for over four decades.
Archbishop Kleda concluded his message with a call for peace and national reconciliation, invoking the intercession of the Virgin Mary, Patroness of Cameroon, and praying that the Holy Spirit guide both leaders and citizens toward justice and truth.
