CHRC AND UNCHRD-CA STRENGTHEN THEIR COOPERATION AHEAD OF CAMEROON’S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

The Chairperson of the Cameroon Human Rights Commission (CHRC), Professor James MOUANGUE KOBILA, was received in audience by the Regional Director of the United Nations Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Central Africa (UNCHRD-CA), Mr Nouhoum SANGARÉ, at the Centre’s regional office in Yaoundé. The meeting, held on 8 October 2025, formed part of the ongoing cooperation between the two institutions, particularly in view of the presidential election scheduled for Sunday, 12 October 2025, in Cameroon.

Professor James MOUANGUE KOBILA was accompanied by :

– Mrs Lydie Francine WO’O ENAMA MANGA, Chief of Staff to the Chairperson ;

– Mr Crépin TCHINDEBE, Assistant Research Officer No. 2, Head of the Human Rights Protection Unit ;

– Ms ATUD Cynthia TIFUH, staff member of the Communication Unit ; and

– Mr Yves HAMAN, Chief of Protocol at the CHRC.

The Regional Representative of the UNCHRD-CA was assisted by two colleagues :

– Mr KANKPENANDJA TIEM, and

– Mrs Sarah MAKANGA.

In his welcome remarks, Mr Nouhoum SANGARÉ expressed his delight in receiving the CHRC delegation, describing the UNCHRD-CA as “almost home” for the CHRC, given the closeness of their mandates and the strength of their partnership. He recalled several areas of fruitful collaboration, notably the recent capacity-building workshops organised for law enforcement officers and civil society organisations (CSOs) in the West, South-West, and Centre Regions, as part of the ongoing electoral process in Cameroon.

Mr SANGARÉ also informed the delegation that, in line with the UNCHRD-CA’s mandate to promote peace and democracy during electoral periods, several Human Rights Officers had been deployed in four regions of the country. He called for close collaboration between these officers and the CHRC’s regional branches to ensure the respect for human rights throughout the electoral process.

For his part, Professor James MOUANGUE KOBILA reaffirmed the CHRC’s commitment to guaranteeing the protection of Cameroonians’ rights, particularly their civil and political rights to participate in public life, in a calm and transparent atmosphere. He indicated that CHRC Commissioners had been deployed across the country to strengthen the observation and monitoring of the 12 October election.

The CHRC Chairperson also referred to the recent statement issued by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) concerning the elections in Cameroon. He emphasised the need to disseminate accurate and verified information, while urging all parties to refrain from spreading unfounded allegations of human rights violations. He further recalled that citizens and political actors, while exercising their rights, must also respect the rights of others in order to preserve peace and national unity.

The audience, which began precisely at 4 :44 p.m., lasted for about two hours. It concluded with the presentation of recent CHRC publications to Mr Nouhoum SANGARÉ. These included the Compendium of Statements Issued by the CHRC from January to July 2025, as well as various awareness-raising materials such as CHRC Actions in 2024 in 15 Points and The Human Rights Situation in Cameroon in 2024 in 15 Points.

This meeting once again served to reaffirm the strength of the partnership between the CHRC and the UNCHRD-CA in promoting and protecting human rights and democracy, and, in the current context, in supporting the holding of peaceful elections in Cameroon.

C.P.