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By Hippolyte Ikome
The Collective of Lawyers for President-elect Issa Tchiroma Bakary said it was “deeply shocked and outraged” by the tragic events that occurred during a peaceful protest this Sunday, which ended with seven unarmed citizens shot dead by security forces using live ammunition.
In a statement released on October 26, 2025, the collective strongly condemned what it called the “illegal, disproportionate and deadly use of force,” as well as “the growing ethnicization of repression,” warning that it threatens national unity and stability.
The lawyers have appealed to the international community, diplomatic missions, the African Union, and CEMAC member states to urgently address the country’s repressive drift. They demand the immediate opening of an international investigation, an end to state violence, and the restoration of civil liberties and constitutional rights.
According to the statement, “the silence of the international community in the face of such grave and inhumane acts would amount to moral complicity.” The collective calls on friendly nations to ensure that “justice, human dignity, and respect for life prevail over fear and division.”
The communiqué is signed by eight lawyers, including Me Dior Diagne, Me Jemal Telab, Me Éric Diamantis, and Me Augustin Ngefack, who reaffirm their commitment to defending the “elected President of Cameroon.”
