Archbishop Kleda denounces Cameroon’s Perverted Democracy. Says results known in advance.

By Lawrence Kenfoy

In a strong worded letter published on Friday 8 August 2025, the Archbishop of Douala Samuel Kleda has criticized the ongoing maneuvers in the preparation of the 2025 Presidential elections, declaring that the outcome was already known in advance.

He denounced growing injustice and corruption, poor governance, growing division in the country and warns that urgent action was needed to restore hope.

In a context where democracy is frequently highlighted as a sine qua non condition for the proper functioning of a state, the allegations of Mgr Kleda concerning elections “whose results are known in advance” invite a deeper reflection on transparency and equity of the electoral process in Cameroon. Election management is often a source of litigation, but perhaps an equally crucial issue is that of the perception of citizens. If these perceptions are not supported by tangible facts, they could lead to a disengagement of voters and to a disintegration of the social fabric.

In this context, what role could the Catholic Church play, with its wide range and influence, to encourage awareness of the masses? Bishop Kleda calls for a choice of men and women carrying a real desire for change. This raises another question: what educational and civic approaches could be set up to prepare citizens for their rights and duties in a democracy?

According to Archbishop Kleda, the reason the country is facing all the crisis ranging from bad governance and corruption to democracy gone astray; widespread poverty and unemployment, clandestine immigration and many more, is as a result of political and societal leaders putting personal, ethnic, and clan interests ahead of the common good, sacrificing the majority of citizens to poverty.

With the October 2025 presidential election approaching, Mgr Kleda says electoral reforms are essential to ensure free, fair, and credible polls. He warns that a lack of transparency could further divide the nation.

The Archbishop highlights the illegal occupation of vast mining areas by individuals without regard for the law, as government permits are granted and then sold to foreign interests under the guise of technical partnerships. Meanwhile, the rightful owners being the local populations are dispossessed and see little benefit.

He denounces the complicity of some high-ranking officials who tolerate widespread fraud, corruption, and unfair wage practices. This situation fuels resentment and social tension, which could escalate into conflict without equitable sharing of the country’s mineral wealth.

One of the most powerful elements of Mgr Kleda’s message is the call for citizen engagement. The prelate invites everyone to explore “new ways to save the country”. This suggests that the responsibility of the nation is not based solely on the shoulders of leaders, but also on each citizen. Indeed, the mobilization of citizens around community initiatives could not only promote better dialogue, but also stimulate innovative solutions adapted to local realities.

In doing so, it would be relevant to question the ways that civil society could consider to strengthen this commitment. How could the young generations, often described as disconnected from the political sphere, be encouraged to participate actively? What structures should be implemented to encourage participation in community projects or in civic debates?

Bishop Samuel Kleda’s pastoral letter is a stimulant for a collective reflection on the future of Cameroon. While the archbishop strengthens individuals forcefully about the need for a change, it is not only a question of criticizing, but nourishing a constructive dialogue on the redefinition of the role of each citizen in the construction of a better future. By cultivating a climate of trust and mutual engagement between the different actors of society, Cameroon could perhaps make its way to a more promising next day. The real question remains: how to go from words to acts?