Cintia A. , Lebledparle.com
As Cameroon is preparing for the 2025 presidential election, the religious leaders during their meeting emphasised the need for integrity, humility, modesty, and moral leadership in the next head of state. According to them, a true leader should not exploit power for personal enrichment but should demonstrate a genuine commitment to serving the people. One of the essential criteria outlined by the bishops is the ability of the future president to travel across all regions of Cameroon at least once during their mandate. This, they believe, will help the leader understand the diverse needs of Cameroonians and govern more effectively. These qualities, they stressed, are imperative for any good leader who aspires to lead the nation after the elections.
During their gathering, the bishops also called on the government and the electoral body, Elections Cameroon (Elecam), to ensure a more transparent electoral process this time. They noted that past elections have been marred by allegations of fraud and a lack of transparency, which has led to repeated calls for electoral reforms. The bishops reiterated that a revised Electoral Code is necessary to address the numerous flaws in the current system. While they did not provide specific recommendations on how the Electoral Code should be revised, they pointed out the government’s reluctance to address these issues, suggesting that there may be hidden motives behind the resistance to reforms.
They further condemned electoral violence and the restrictions placed on some presidential candidates, preventing them from campaigning in certain parts of the country. Such actions, they argued, undermine democracy and must not be tolerated in the upcoming election. In anticipation of the elections, the bishops urged Elecam to adopt a code of good conduct. They defined this as a set of behavioral standards agreed upon by all electoral stakeholders to foster a fair, free, credible, and transparent electoral process. By implementing such a code, the bishops believe that the country can ensure peaceful elections whose results will be accepted by all.
As Cameroon prepares for this crucial political moment, the bishops’ message serves as a call for accountability and integrity in leadership, reinforcing the need for a democratic process that truly reflects the will of the people.
