As Cameroonians prepare to elect a new president on Sunday, October 12, 2025, an assembly of the country’s academics who have returned from the diaspora has called on potential voters to cast their ballots for Issa Tchiroma Bakary, candidate of the Cameroon National Salvation Front (FSNC).
A former spokesperson of incumbent president Paul Biya’s government, Tchiroma is one of eleven opposition candidates seeking to unseat the long-serving leader in Sunday’s presidential election.
In a press release on Friday, October 10, the over 500-member Association of Cameroon Returnee Diaspora Professors (ACRDP), said they are convinced that Tchiroma “represents the most credible and visionary leadership alternative for Cameroon at this crucial juncture in our national history”.
The conclusion, they said in the communiqué, follows a careful and objective evaluation of the national political landscape.
In the release signed by ACRDP’s president, Emeritus Professor Nicodemus Fru Awasom, the association has outlined the following (see below) reasons for their choice of Tchiroma.
1. The Imperative for Change
Cameroon stands today at a crossroads. For over four decades, the nation has experienced political stagnation, economic inertia, and moral fatigue. The phrase “Le Cameroun s’ennuie” — “Cameroon is bored”, captures our collective frustration and yearning for renewal.
This condition of national boredom and decay is not without precedent. As Alphonse de Lamartine warned of France in 1848, beneath calm appearances often lies dangerous political stagnation. Cameroon now faces a similar peril — governance without purpose, rule without visibility, and leadership without inspiration.
The Biya regime, after 43 years in power, has transformed into an oligarchy marked by complacency, clan-based patronage, and disconnection from the people’s aspirations. The time has come for a generational and systemic renewal.
2. Why We Support Issa Tchiroma Bakary
Mr. Issa Tchiroma Bakary is a fearless, pragmatic, and far-sighted statesman who has consistently demonstrated political maturity, intellectual depth, and national commitment. He embodies the courage and vision required to rebuild the Republic on firm republican principles.
He has pledged to:
• Restore democratic alternation of power and entrench presidential term limits as a sacred constitutional principle.
• Re-establish Cameroon as a true republic, not a hereditary monarchy.
• Pursue inclusive governance founded on merit, transparency, and service to the people.
We have studied his programme and are persuaded that within five years, Issa Tchiroma Bakary can reposition Cameroon as a vibrant democracy and a modern state of law and opportunity.
3. His Courage on the Anglophone Question
Mr. Tchiroma Bakary has distinguished himself as the only presidential candidate to address the Anglophone problem with honesty, humility, and historical awareness.
He has:
• Acknowledged past mistakes and asked for forgiveness from affected communities;
• Committed to a frank constitutional review with federalism on the table; and
• Demonstrated deep knowledge of Cameroon’s colonial and post-colonial history, including the 1961 reunification process and its structural injustices.
His approach offers a genuine path to reconciliation and national healing, unlike the empty slogans of “one and indivisible Cameroon” used by others for political gain.
4. A Champion of the Cameroonian Diaspora
Mr. Tchiroma Bakary is also the only candidate who has consistently advocated for dual nationality, recognizing the invaluable contribution of the Cameroonian diaspora to national development.
While the current regime views its diaspora with suspicion, Issa Tchiroma Bakary sees it as an asset — a bridge between Cameroon and the world.
His inclusive vision aligns with the practices of many progressive African nations that have embraced dual citizenship as a tool for modernization, investment, and innovation.
5. A Call for Electoral Vigilance
Mr. Tchiroma Bakary has also called for vigilance in defending the people’s votes.
The Association shares his conviction that the 2025 elections will not be won solely at the ballot box but through the collective resolve of the electorate to protect their mandate.
We urge all Cameroonians to exercise their civic duty peacefully but firmly, ensuring that every vote counts and every voice is heard.
6. Our Final Word
The Association of Cameroon Returnee Diaspora Professors reaffirms its unflinching confidence in the leadership, integrity, and national vision of Issa Tchiroma Bakary.
We call upon:
• All patriotic Cameroonians, at home and abroad,
• The international community, and
• Democratic partners of Cameroon
to support a peaceful transition of power that restores faith in republican governance and opens a new chapter of justice, unity, and progress.
