Yaoundé, November 15, 2025 (True Cameroon) — A now-viral Facebook post circulating online claims that former minister and opposition figure Issa Tchiroma Bakary is fleeing from country to country after facing political and legal pressure. The post, written in dramatic language and filled with unverifiable personal details, has been widely shared by pro-regime social media accounts raising deeper concerns about the state of political freedoms and media ethics in Cameroon.
Whether one supports or opposes Tchiroma politically is beside the point.
The real issue is how political narratives are manufactured and weaponized in Cameroon’s restricted civic space.
This entire episode reveals far more about the environment in which political actors operate than about Tchiroma himself.
I. The Problem Is Not the Man. It’s the Narrative Machine
The post uses:
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ridicule (“Pelezident z’elu”),
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humiliation,
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personal attacks,
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speculative claims,
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and sensational storytelling
…not to inform the public, but to delegitimize and destroy a political figure through online shaming.
This tactic is common in controlled political environments where:
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independent media is weak,
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public information is restricted,
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and political dissent is stigmatized.
Instead of debating policies, ideas, or governance, political communication becomes about character assassination.
This is not democracy.
It is political theatre.
II. When Asylum Becomes a Weapon
The post mocks the idea that an opposition figure could seek refuge across borders.
But in systems with:
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controversial prosecutions,
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politicized charges,
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limited judicial independence,
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and tight executive control,
…it is common for political actors to seek protection abroad.
Across Africa, numerous political figures whether guilty, innocent, or somewhere in between have fled their home countries due to fear of politically motivated detention or unfair trials.
Mocking asylum seekers normalizes a political environment where personal safety depends on loyalty to the ruling class.
That is the opposite of constitutional democracy.
III. Criminalizing Opposition Is a Red Flag for Any Democracy
The post lists a series of accusations “rebellion”, “insurgency”, “incitement”, “hostility against the homeland” without due process, without evidence, and without presumption of innocence.
When political opponents are labeled criminals before any court rules, the rule of law collapses.
A democracy cannot function when:
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accusation = guilt
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trial = formality
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court = extension of political power
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public opinion = shaped by propaganda
This produces fear, not justice.
IV. Social Media Propaganda Is Replacing Actual Politics
The post ends by mocking the idea of a “president-elect on Facebook”.
But this says more about Cameroon’s collapsed political institutions than about the individual.
When:
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elections lack credibility,
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institutions lack trust,
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results lack transparency,
…citizens naturally migrate toward online political arenas.
In Cameroon, Facebook has become the unofficial parliament of the country because the formal political system offers no space for genuine debate.
This is not healthy.
It is a symptom of deep democratic decay.
V. The Larger Issue: A Shrinking Space for Political Freedom
The violence in the language of the viral post reflects the violence of the political environment itself:
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Opposition groups have limited access to public media
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Journalists face intimidation
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Protest is restricted or banned
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Citizens fear expressing dissent
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Trials of political actors often occur in military courts
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Political competition is heavily controlled
In such a climate, the public is trained to celebrate the downfall of political opponents rather than question the system that produces such outcomes.
Political humiliation becomes entertainment.
Political persecution becomes normal.
Political freedom becomes a privilege.
VI. A Dangerous Precedent for Cameroon’s Future
Regardless of anyone’s opinion about Issa Tchiroma, this style of public shaming sets a precedent:
Today it is him.
Tomorrow it could be any other voice that displeases power.
In an unfree system, there are no protected citizens.
Political rights are not about who deserves them they are about whether the system guarantees them.
And today, the system does not.
Conclusion: Cameroon Needs Institutions, Not Online Lynch Mobs
Instead of celebrating sensational and unverifiable stories, Cameroonians deserve:
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independent courts
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transparent investigations
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fair trials
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a free press
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protected opposition rights
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neutral institutions
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political tolerance
A country where political rivals are mocked, hunted, or humiliated is a country drifting away from democracy slowly, quietly, but unmistakably.
Political freedom is not measured by who wins arguments on Facebook.
It is measured by whether citizens can disagree without fear.
And on that measure, Cameroon is failing.
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