Minister of Enployment and Vocati9nal Training, a prominent political figure, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, has officially announced his candidacy for the upcoming 2025 Cameroonian presidential election, issuing a fervent call for national unity, democratic reform, and a decisive break from the “old system”. The declaration, presented as a deeply personal and national rendezvous, emphasizes the urgent need for change to address the suffering and aspirations of the Cameroonian people.
He resigned from government on Monday Nume 23.
In a comprehensive platform, the candidate highlights several critical areas for reform:
- Democratic Overhaul: The core message centers on returning “power to the people” and rebuilding a vibrant, accountable democracy. This includes a commitment to electoral reforms for transparent and undeniable polls, and a strong rejection of violence in political discourse. The candidate explicitly states that the current regime should “withdraw with dignity”.
- National Unity and Inclusivity: The platform stresses that national unity is “the condition of our survival and the lever of our development”. It advocates for recognizing the richness of Cameroon’s diversity and ensuring equitable representation for all regions, particularly addressing the concerns of Anglophone compatriots in the North-West and South-West regions through dialogue and respect for their specificities.
- Justice and Equality: A pledge is made to combat systemic injustice, favoritism, and impunity, promising to sanction corrupt individuals. The candidate aims to improve living conditions for the most vulnerable, especially in rural areas, and to guarantee rights and dignity for all citizens regardless of origin, ethnicity, or belief.
- Enhanced National Security: Acknowledging persistent and multifaceted security threats, including Boko Haram attacks in the Far North, the Anglophone crisis, and rising urban insecurity, the candidate proposes a new security doctrine. This doctrine is based on a professional army, a functioning justice system, and a Republic that rejects chaos and impunity.
- Youth Empowerment and Education: The youth are positioned as the “vital energy” and “promise” of the nation. The platform proposes a National Youth Initiative Fund to finance projects in future-oriented sectors like digital technology, green economy, and social entrepreneurship, alongside a comprehensive reform of vocational training and massive investment in education.
- Support for Women and Families: Recognizing Cameroonian women as the “silent pillars” of society, the candidate pledges a national support program for single mothers, widows, and rural women, including financial aid, professional training, and facilitated access to healthcare, land, and credit.
- Workers’ Rights and Employment: The candidate commits to revaluing salaries, particularly in essential sectors like health, education, justice, and security, and promises a permanent social dialogue with unions. A National Employment Plan focused on training and developing promising sectors in each region is also proposed to address unemployment.
- Agricultural Revitalization: Emphasizing food sovereignty, the platform calls for a National Agricultural Plan focused on modernizing tools, streamlining distribution, facilitating access to credit, and expanding irrigation. Investment in rural equipment, technical training, and agricultural digitalization is also highlighted.
- Engaging the Diaspora: The candidate proposes refounding relations with the Cameroonian diaspora, strengthening their civic rights, valuing their contributions, and opening a dialogue on recognizing dual nationality as a legitimate expression of dual roots.
- Assertive Diplomacy: The platform outlines a foreign policy based on “assumed sovereignty, permanent dialogue, and shared progress,” aiming for Cameroon’s voice to resonate internationally without subservience.
- Referendum on Federalism: A significant proposal includes a concerted and transparent process for the Cameroonian people to choose, via a referendum, the form of state that corresponds to their aspirations, moving away from a centralized system.
Bakary expressed a deep conviction and unwavering faith in Cameroon’s common destiny, urging citizens to engage, build, gather, and dare, so that Cameroon “becomes everyone’s business again” and “power finally returns to the people”. The 2025 presidential election is framed as a “historic opportunity” for a turning point and an act of “democratic truth”.
