The curtains have officially closed on the 2025 First Biannual Conference of Regional Governors, with the Minister of Territorial Administration, Paul Atanga Nji, delivering a firm and uncompromising closing speech this Thursday, July 17, at the City Council Hall in Yaoundé. Held under the high instructions of President Paul Biya, the conference brought together all ten regional governors and top officials from Defence, National Security, the Communication Council, and Territorial Administration. Its key objective: assessing the political and security climate ahead of the October 12 presidential election. Minister Atanga Nji reaffirmed that Cameroon’s security situation remains firmly under control, despite a tense political backdrop and provocations from radical actors. He warned against destabilising rhetoric and social media incitement, stressing that the rule of law will prevail before, during, and after the polls. “Let us debate; let us not fight,” he quoted President Biya, calling for peaceful, idea-driven political engagement. The minister instructed governors to establish pre-election security cells, monitor political parties, NGOs, and associations, and scrutinise their funding. Once candidates are validated by the electoral body, no form of protest or disruption will be tolerated.

Highlighting Cameroon’s vibrant media and multiparty democracy, Atanga Nji pointed to over 700 newspapers, 200+ private/community radio stations, and 25 private TV channels. However, he condemned the misuse of these platforms to spread hate speech and disinformation. On the security front, he praised the synergy among defence and security forces, which has kept the nation largely peaceful, even in the face of cross-border threats. “Despite provocations and the silence of radical opposition, peace reigns across the country,” he noted. Drawing from President Biya’s past warnings, particularly from 1992 and 2017, Atanga Nji reminded all political actors that national unity is sacred, and no political ambition should undermine it. “We must not play with the hammer,” he echoed, in reference to attempts to seize power outside democratic means. “No one will be allowed to disrupt public order or challenge our institutions,” he concluded. “Strength will remain in the law.” As the conference ends, the message is clear: Cameroon is determined to safeguard peace, democracy, and sovereignty firmly, lawfully, and without compromise.