Tchiroma’s “Lettre à la Nation”: A Turning Point in Cameroon’s Post-Election Crisis
Yaoundé, 17 November 2025 — Issa Tchiroma Bakary, who has declared himself Président-élu, has released a sweeping and emotional “Lettre à la Nation” addressed to Cameroonians everywhere. The message posted with the insignia of the Republic and framed with presidential tone is his boldest communication yet.
It is not just a speech.
It is a political manifesto, a moral argument, and a call for national awakening.
For a country navigating one of the most contested transitions in its modern history, this letter deserves careful reading and serious analysis.
1. A Letter Written for a Population That Knows Its History
Tchiroma begins by speaking directly to Cameroonians “comme un fils de ce pays.” This is intentional.
He frames his position not as a partisan figure or challenger, but as:
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a son of the nation,
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a father,
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a servant,
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and a witness to Cameroon's long cycle of political suppression.
His message is crafted for Cameroonians who know the real story those who have seen decades of restricted political competition, institutional imbalance, and cycles of tense elections.
The tone is personal and intimate, but also deeply political.
2. Connecting the Present Crisis to Cameroon's Long Struggle for Sovereignty
A striking feature of Tchiroma’s message is how he anchors today’s moment in the lineage of historic liberation struggles:
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1955: UPC victory erased, leaders hunted.
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1990: The burning cities demanding multiparty politics.
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1992: A disputed election many still remember.
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2018: Another contested poll, another generation’s hope tested.
By invoking Ruben Um Nyobè, Félix-Roland Moumié, and Ernest Ouandié, Tchiroma is drawing a straight line between Cameroon’s anticolonial struggle and today’s fight for political legitimacy.
This is not accidental it is a claim that today’s crisis is not just about 2025, but about 70 years of interrupted sovereignty.
3. “Aucune force n’efface une victoire obtenue avec le cœur.”
Tchiroma’s central argument is clear:
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The sovereign decision of the people cannot be erased
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No decree can silence millions
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No army can withstand a mobilized nation
He avoids explicit calls for confrontation, but the imagery is unmistakably powerful.
His message: the will of the people is stronger than the structures resisting change.
The strategic choice of words “résister,” “tenir bon,” “un peuple qui se met en marche” signals civil resistance, not passive resignation.
4. A Diagnosis of the Political System: “Prise d’otage électorale”
Tchiroma’s letter does not float in abstraction.
He lays out a harsh critique of the current situation, framed as:
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MILITARISATION of institutions
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LOSS OF INDEPENDENCE within constitutional bodies
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A democratic process overshadowed by fear
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Detentions, disappearances, and intimidation
He argues that real power has shifted away from the law and into the hands of those who control force.
This is not new rhetoric in Cameroon’s political space but Tchiroma is the first major figure in this election cycle to articulate it at this scale and with presidential framing.
5. A Call for Resistance — But Non-Violent
Despite the fiery tone, Tchiroma draws a clear red line:
“Notre ligne : calme, discipline, non-violence.”
This is politically significant.
He positions his movement not as a revolt but as a disciplined national uprising of conscience, rooted in justice, light, and peaceful courage.
This is a direct contrast to fears of chaos or unrest.
It is a strategic reassurance both internally and to the international community.
6. Speaking to All Cameroonians, from Tinga to Kribi
The letter becomes personal when he addresses specific groups:
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The youth of Tinga
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Mothers in Yaoundé
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Fishermen in Kribi
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Students in Maroua
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Families across the country
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The diaspora
By naming these communities, Tchiroma is building an inclusive national coalition in rhetoric a symbolic presidency that speaks to everyone, not just urban elites or political activists.
This “nationwide embrace” is characteristic of leaders seeking moral legitimacy.
7. A Direct Message to the International Community
Tchiroma makes a subtle but important move here:
He does not ask for interference.
He asks for conscience.
This is a diplomatic cue: he wants recognition of the people’s will, not external control.
It positions the crisis as a matter of democratic principle, not geopolitical alignment.
8. “L’histoire ne cède pas. Elle avance.”
Tchiroma ends with a line that is both poetic and ominous:
History does not bend to force.
History advances.
And now its name is: the Cameroonian people.
This is his thesis.
This is his political identity.
He is not portraying himself as a challenger to a regime — he is presenting himself as:
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the voice of a generation,
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the continuation of a 70-year struggle,
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and the servant of a people who refuse to back down.
Whether one supports or opposes him, this is a powerful political narrative.
Conclusion: A Letter That Changes the Landscape
Tchiroma’s “Lettre à la Nation” is not just another opposition statement.
It is:
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Presidential in form
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Revolutionary in tone
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Historical in its references
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Strategic in its appeals
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And rooted in the frustrations of millions of Cameroonians
It positions the post-electoral crisis not as a temporary dispute but as a deep national reckoning with the past, the present, and the unfulfilled dreams of political freedom.
Whether this movement grows or is suppressed, one thing is already clear:
Tchiroma has shifted the conversation from election results to national destiny.
And Cameroonians are watching closely.
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