The United Nations has voiced serious concerns about the state of political freedoms in Cameroon, just weeks ahead of the country’s presidential election scheduled for October 12.

At the center of the storm is President Paul Biya, the world’s oldest sitting head of state at 92 years old, who is seeking yet another seven-year term—potentially extending his 43-year grip on power.

“Not a Safe Environment for Free Elections,” Says UN

On Tuesday, UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk criticized the deteriorating political climate, warning those growing restrictions on civil liberties could undermine the legitimacy of the upcoming vote.

“A safe and enabling human rights environment is essential for peaceful, inclusive, and credible elections. It regrettably appears that this is not the case in Cameroon,” said Türk.

He urged the Cameroonian government to take urgent measures to ensure conditions for a free, fair, and transparent election.

Crackdown on Opposition

The UN’s concerns come after at least 53 opposition supporters were arrested in August. They faced charges including public disorder, unlawful assembly, rebellion, and incitement to revolt. Although all were later released, Türk stressed that:

“They simply should not have been arrested in the first place. No one should ever be detained for exercising their rights to freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly.”

A Challenging Political Landscape

Cameroon’s opposition remains deeply fragmented, struggling to form a united front capable of seriously challenging Biya’s long-standing rule. Human rights groups have repeatedly accused the Biya government of systematically repressing dissent, using security forces and legal mechanisms to weaken opposition movements.

Looking Ahead

With the October election fast approaching, the spotlight is on Cameroon’s ability to uphold democratic standards. The UN’s public criticism adds to mounting international pressure on the Biya regime to allow genuine political competition and protect civil liberties.

Whether these calls will lead to meaningful reforms—or further crackdowns—remains to be seen.