Cameroonian CSOs warn of rising hate speech and disinformation ahead of 2025 polls

By Hans Ngala

A coalition of 16 Cameroonian civil society organizations (CSOs) has signed a statement calling on Cameroonian authorities to “fight against misinformation and hate speech during elections in Cameroon”.
The four-page document was signed by various organizations, including Civic Watch Cameroon, Paradigm Initiative, Sisterspeak237 among others.
According to Dr. Ngala Desmond of Civic Watch Cameroon, this statement was issued because:
“In the build-up to elections in Cameroon this year, we started a crusade looking at the concerted actions by most, if not all, of the stakeholders as far back as last year”. Dr. Ngala said, “The idea for us was not technically to come out as stratified unions, but to make sure that everyone who is on board here, kind of participates in the discussion we were having to ensure that hate speech, misinformation, and incitement to violence are effectively mitigated by Cameroonians, both at home and abroad. We all have the responsibility to foster peace, peaceful coexistence, and respect be it through online content, conversation in our communities or the media and that’s why we decided to bring stakeholders together”.
The coalition is urging state institutions to enforce existing laws against hate speech and disinformation in a fair and transparent manner. At the same time, it warns against heavy-handed tactics such as internet shutdowns, arbitrary arrests, or media crackdowns, which have marred past electoral periods in Cameroon.
The group issued a series of recommendations, including:
• To the government: calling on authorities to apply the law fairly to prosecute incitement and disinformation, while avoiding disproportionate responses such as internet shutdowns or arrests of dissenting voices.
• To the media: for journalists to return to ethical journalism and commit to peace reporting, steering clear of divisive or unverified content.
• To political parties: that they avoid inflammatory rhetoric and prioritize national unity over short-term political gain.
• To social media influencers: reject manipulation and misinformation, and use their platforms to promote inclusion and calm.
• To citizens: verify information before sharing, resist ethnic scapegoating, and promote peaceful dialogue.
• To digital platforms: support local moderation and partner with community actors to curb hate speech.
In the lead-up to October’s vote, which is expected to be one of the most anticipated and tense in recent memory—the coalition warns that Cameroon’s democratic journey could be derailed if urgent steps are not taken.
“The signing of this declaration coincides with the International Day Against Hate Speech (celebrated every year on the 18th of June), a day set aside by the UN, it is relevant because this is the first time civil society is coming together to warn against the dangers of hate speech in Cameroon” Ngala added.
As President Paul Biya, in power since 1982, approaches what may be his last or most contested election, the political atmosphere is charged. The coalition’s call is therefore not just timely—it is necessary.