The Minister of Territorial Administration, Atanga Nji Paul, officially chaired the first biannual conference of regional governors for the 2025 session on Wednesday, July 17, 2025, at the Yaoundé City Council Hall. This high-level meeting comes just days after President Paul Biya signed a decree, n°2025/305, on July 11 convening the electorate for the presidential election slated for Sunday, October 12, 2025.The gathering, placed under the theme « The Challenge of Maintaining Public Order During the Electoral Period:For a Credible, Transparent, and Peaceful Presidential Election, » brought together senior state officials, regional governors, and top security operatives. Its primary focus was to assess the country’s preparedness and reinforce strategies for a secure and orderly electoral process. In his keynote address, Minister Atanga Nji underlined the strategic significance of convening the conference 90 days before the polls.
He expressed appreciation to the Secretary of State for the National Gendarmerie and the Delegate General for National Security for their steadfast support in ensuring public order and national stability. Addressing the governors, the minister reminded them of their constitutional duty to maintain peace and order in their respective regions. He urged them to exercise full vigilance and leadership throughout the electoral period to guarantee a serene and credible election. « Our population must feel the reassuring presence of the State, he stated, emphasizing the government’s firm commitment to a peaceful democratic process.
On matters of security, Minister Atanga Ni issued stern warnings against acts of incitement, hate speech, tribal propaganda, and attempts to destabilize the country. He declared that any such acts during the electoral period will be met with firm and uncompromising legal action.Protecting citizens and preserving public order, he stressed, remain non-negotiable obligations of the state.
He also expressed deep concern over what he described as increasing media excesses, noting that certain programs have become platforms for undermining government actions, attacking national institutions, spreading tribal hatred, and promoting insurrectionist narratives. In this regard, he announced consultations with the president of the National Communication Council (NCC) and warned that severe sanctions will simply be left behind. » The conference also featured a detailed security briefing delivered jointly by the Secretary of State for the National Gendarmerie and the Delegate General for National Security. Minister Atanga Nj called on all stakeholders to uphold the principles of peace, legality, and responsibility as the nation prepares to go to the polls.He reaffirmed the government’s unwavering commitment to democratic integrity, national unity, and the protection of all citizens.