‘Betrayal of mandate’ — CSOs criticise AU for congratulatory letter to Paul Biya

A group of civil society organisations (CSOs) have kicked against a congratulatory letter issued by the African Union (AU) to Cameroonian President Paul Biya after the 92-year-old won a heavily disputed poll.

No fewer than 48 people were reportedly killed in the protests that trailed the presidential election.

Mahmoud Youssouf, AU chairperson, congratulated Biya on his eighth term victory on October 28.

Youssouf added that he was “gravely concerned” about the reported violence and called on all actors to exercise restraint and work towards the preservation of peace and stability in Cameroon.

In a joint statement on Wednesday, the CSOs said the congratulatory letter, despite an acknowledgment of violence, compromised the commission’s impartiality and independence.

“As such, this act represents an incompatibility with the mandate of the Commission and a dangerous signal at a time when democracy, accountability, and respect for human rights are under severe threat across the continent and especially in Cameroon, where the authorities have already acknowledged the loss of lives during the post-electoral protests,” the letter reads.

“The African Commission was established to promote and protect human and peoples’ rights, not as an institution that endorses or legitimizes contested political outcomes.

“By congratulating President Biya — amid credible reports of election-related violence leading to verified fatalities — the Commission has, wittingly or unwittingly, undermined its credibility and betrayed both the letter and the spirit of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

“This letter risks eroding public trust in the Commission and the wider African human rights system, which already faces increasing skepticism from citizens who see impunity and selective engagement replacing principled leadership.”

The statement urged the commission to cease issuing congratulatory letters to election candidates, and urgently initiate or support independent investigations into human rights violations, killings, and abuses that occurred during recent elections in Cameroon, Tanzania, and other states.

The group also urged the commission to resist any actions that dilute its protective mandate while strengthening its responsiveness and proactivity.

Nigerian signatories to the joint statement include Chidi Odinkalu, former chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC); Ikeazor Akaraiwe, senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN); Adaobi Egboka, Africa programme director at Cyrus R. Vance Centre for International Justice; Stanley Ibe, human rights advocate; and Ikechukwu Uzoma, international human rights lawyer.