Episcopal Conference “not a political party”: Archbishop in Cameroon Cautions against Attempts to Manipulate the Church

He added, “I therefore call on Cameroonians of all walks of life to take their responsibilities as political actors and stop hiding behind the Catholic Church and expecting her to do their duty.”

Critics, including politicians, activists, and social media commentators, accused the Catholic Church of a kind of “silence” over electoral fraud in Cameroon's October 2025 Presidential election despite Bishops being outspoken before, during and after the poll.

Cameroon’s Constitutional Council confirmed the re-election of President Paul Biya, Africa’s second-longest-serving head of State, rivalled only by President Teodoro Obiang of Equatorial Guinea, following the 12 October 2025 election.

The official results showed Biya winning the election by 53.66 percent of the total votes, against 35.19 percent for opposition leader Issa Tchiroma Bakary.

In his January 6 address, Archbishop Nkea recalled that the Catholic Bishops “clearly” stated in their 2025 pastoral letter that “it is the right and duty of everyone to participate in political life and there is no reason why Christians should fail to take an interest in politics.”

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“It is a wake-up call to them not to only denounce the problems but to commit themselves with others to analyzing situations, discerning what is at stake and proposing concrete courses of action,” he added.

Consequently, Archbishop Nkea continued, “the lay faithful are never to relinquish their participation in public life, that is, in the many different economic, social, legislative, administrative and cultural areas which are intended to promote organically and institutionally the common good.”

He said, “For the past couple of years, the Church has been speaking out on the suffering of the people and has been teaching on various social issues in the society.”

“However, we are beginning to notice that some people close their ears to the teachings of the Bishops and when the Bishops do not say what they want to hear, they accuse the Bishops of silent complicity with the powers that be,” the NECC President said.

He emphasized, “The Church will continue her prophetic and evangelization mission and like St. Paul says in the second letter to Timothy 4:2.”

“Therefore, Cameroonian people, take your responsibilities and leave the Bishops to preach their gospel,” Archbishop Nkea said.

On Cameroon's situation, Archbishop Nkea lamented the persistence of insecurity, corruption, injustice, and social mistrust, situations he said undermine peace and development. 

He called for moral renewal, unity, solidarity, and a conversion of hearts as essential foundations for national recovery.

Reflecting on the theme of the January 3-10 seminar, “Communion and Collegiality,” he explained that the Bishops intend to reflect “honestly on their own actions and witness as members of the NECC.”

As Cameroon approaches the conclusion of the Catholic Church’s 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope, Archbishop Nkea reminded the people of God that hope, as a theological virtue, does not end. 

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He said hope must continue to inspire the Church’s pastoral mission in promoting human dignity, fraternity, and solidarity, beyond all political partisanship.

Jude Atemanke is a Cameroonian journalist with a passion for Catholic Church communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Buea in Cameroon. Currently, Jude serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.