Post-October 12 poll crisis: Int’l rights group calls for urgent UN, AU intervention.

In a statement issued Thursday and widely shared on social media, the London-based think tank expressed grave concern over the escalating violence and mass arrests in Cameroon following the disputed October 12, 2025 election. 

The group said the reported killings of over 50 civilians, widespread detention of peaceful protesters, including minors, and allegations of torture, represent severe violations of fundamental human rights and threaten the very fabric of Cameroon’s democracy.

The group said it is urging President Biya to immediately cease all violent repression, release those unlawfully detained, and engage in genuine reconciliation efforts. 

The urgency of institutional reforms, they stated, cannot be overstated. 

The global body was blunt that transparent electoral processes, respect for freedom of assembly and expression, and robust judicial independence are critical to preventing further deterioration of democratic governance. 

Without credible accountability and political dialogue, the group regretted that the cycle of violence and repression will deepen, with dire consequences for Cameroon’s stability and its citizens’ rights.

“ImpACT International stresses the necessity of a holistic approach combining local, regional, and international efforts to restore peace and uphold human rights in Cameroon,” the organisation said, disclosing that: “We stand ready to support evidence-based policy advice and capacity-building initiatives geared toward sustainable democratic reforms”.

“This moment demands swift action, tangible reforms, and unwavering commitment to justice from all stakeholders to protect lives and restore hope for Cameroon's future,” the group added.

Created in 2014, ImpACT International for Human Rights Policies, it should be said, is a nongovernmental think-tank based in London, United Kingdom. The group is concerned with policies at the intersection of states and businesses. 

ImpACT International monitors and delivers technical advice on human rights to governments, international bodies, national institutions, and influential corporations.

The global organisation works to operationalise a culture of human rights within nationally and internationally influential institutions of both the public and the private sectors.

ImpACT International seeks to deliver on its mission through an evidence-based approach to policy innovation where rights deficits are assessed holistically and addressed constructively in dialogue with advised institutions.

Impact International works with Executive, legislative, and judicial institutions of states to ensure states integrate principles of human rights in the planning and implementation of their public and foreign policy, and focuses on partnering with these institutions to establish just and fair labour regulations, rights-informed trade agreements, and effective mechanisms of accessing legal support. 

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3624 of Friday November 14, 2025