As the second week of presidential campaign season takes full flight in Cameroon, both traditional and online media continue to sing in near unison and the tune is unmistakably pro-incumbent. Whether on newspaper front pages, YouTube channels, or Facebook timelines, the image of President Paul Biya and the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM) floods the nation’s English media ecosystem.
From Eden Newspaper’s front-page pledge of “100% vote for Biya” in Limbe to The Guardian Post’s portrayal of an imploding opposition, the trend persists it the incumbent dominating, while rivals struggle to be seen or heard.
But this week, we add a new layer with the digital space. Online publications, bloggers, and citizen journalists have joined the campaign noise, amplifying the CPDM’s reach and further shrinking opposition visibility.
In the print world, Eden Newspaper maintains its position as one of the loudest amplifiers of CPDM messaging. Its coverage moves from Limbe to Misaje, quoting mayors, chiefs, and elites reaffirming loyalty to the Head of State. Even local infrastructure stories like roads, classrooms, health units are woven into the ruling party’s development narrative.
The Guardian Post, while maintaining a sharper editorial tone, still focuses heavily on Biya’s momentum. Opposition parties, notably the SDF, appear mainly in contexts of internal wrangling. The paper’s banner headline, “SDF on verge of implosion!”, frames the opposition as disorganised and struggling for relevance.
Meanwhile, the state owned Cameroon Insider and The Herald Tribune carry the banner of state-aligned communication. The Insider dedicates its front page to the Prime Minister’s nationwide tour, while The Herald Tribune echoes loyalty pledges from Kupe Muanenguba II, boasting a “120% vote for Biya.”
Even The Reporter and Municipal Updates feature stories linking social activities and development efforts to the First Couple, turning philanthropy and governance into subtle campaign content.
Adding to this dominant trend, The Advocate features a mix of campaign mobilisation and civil society perspectives. While the paper highlights Fako CPDM campaign teams reassuring Biya of “big victory” and reports on Issa Tchiroma’s fast-paced caravan from Bamenda to Douala in two days, its lead story stands out: Barrister Nkongho Felix Agbor Balla proposing a transitional government and reforms in Cameroon. This is one of the few front-page stories not directly tied to Biya’s campaign, offering a rare reformist angle in the week’s coverage.
The Median also stays largely within the pro-incumbent wave, leading with Okie Johnson Ndoh’s assurance of a big win for Biya in Nguti. However, it expands slightly by reporting on Tchiroma’s public apologies during his campaign tour in Yaoundé, Buea, Douala and Bamenda, and by including mentions of other political voices like Tomaino Ndam Njoya’s promise of a “new era.” It also touches on regulatory matters, with the National Communication Council warning media houses on election coverage.
The online sphere, often seen as a space for alternative voices, is this week equally dominated by the CPDM’s machinery.
Websites, Facebook pages, YouTube channels, and WhatsApp groups have become extensions of campaign rallies.
On YouTube, videos of Biya’s surging support fill feeds. Channels such as GPmEDIA and Ma STE Online have shared multiple clips of rallies and speeches, from Limbe to Bamenda. One trending video captures Issa Tchiroma of the FSNC addressing a packed crowd at Bamenda’s City Chemist Roundabout, appealing for forgiveness in Bamenda ” a statement that has sparked debate both online and offline. Watch it here.
Hilltopvoices’ own coverage of that moment “Issa Tchiroma urges citizens to accept only ballot box results during Bamenda Visit” quickly became one of the most shared political articles of the week, with readers engaging in spirited debate about electoral transparency and political accountability. Read it on Hilltopvoices.com.
Online platform Dray Infos expanded that angle, reporting that “Issa Tchiroma Seeks Forgiveness in Bamenda, Vows to Address the Anglophone Crisis by Examining Root Causes.” The piece highlighted promises of reconciliation, release of political prisoners, and a message of hope to Cameroonians abroad but even this rare opposition visibility was dwarfed by the overwhelming pro-CPDM narrative elsewhere. Read on Dray Infos.
Across CPDM-aligned platforms, the storylines are almost identical and plentiful.
The Observer 237 alone published several glowing articles this week:
- “Bamenda: CPDM Scribe Jean Nkuete Assesses Campaign, Urges Electorate to Support Paul Biya’s Vision for a Prosperous Cameroon.”
- “Minister Felix Mbayu Rallies Old Town Muslims Behind President Biya’s Peace, Development Agenda.”
- “Boyo III CPDM Section Unanimously Pledges Support to President Biya.”
Each piece follows the same rhythm that of loyalty declarations, lists of development projects attributed to Biya, and dismissive references to the opposition.
At Larry Times, Mayor Denis Awoh Ndang of Boyo III went further, publicly declaring that the opposition was “weak, fragmented, and disconnected,” adding that “since 1992, the SDF has never reached 20% again.” His speech, widely shared on Facebook, was interpreted as both a show of confidence and a reflection of how local CPDM officials now see the election as a foregone conclusion. Full story on Larry Times.
Elsewhere, Simon Kalla News reported from Muyuka that Hon. Findi Mokondo proposed a new subdivision split while campaigning for Biya. This is another example of development promises wrapped in campaign language. Read more here.
And from Limbe, KNews also carried a story titled “Limbe Bike Riders Say President Biya Best Choice for October 12,” in which local transporters pledged their votes, citing youth empowerment policies as motivation.
Finally, Ultimate Media Cameroon rounded off the week with the headline “Kupe Muanenguba II CPDM: Okie Johnson Woos Voters for Landslide Victory for President Biya,” praising the President for “transforming Nguti into a new London.”
Opposition Efforts
Opposition candidates, though not completely silent, are still struggling to break through the noise.
The Social Democratic Front (SDF) launched a door-to-door campaign in Mbengwi on October 2, deploying ten teams to engage voters personally. The campaign was documented on Facebook by local activists, but mainstream or digital news coverage remained thin. See post here.
Even strong social media users like Univers Party have had limited engagement this week, their messages drowned out by the ruling party’s massive online push.
President Paul Biya and the CPDM clearly hold both traditional and digital media space. Their campaign dominates headlines, videos, and social posts, forming an almost uninterrupted media echo of loyalty and continuity.
Opposition leaders like Joshua Osih, Tomaino Ndam Njoya, the Bello Bouba coalition, and Cabral Libii appear mostly in scattered Facebook posts or independent blogs, rarely breaking into the national conversation. When they do appear in mainstream media, coverage is often overshadowed by CPDM rallies.
Several minor candidates remain invisible neither mentioned in print nor spotted in digital spaces. Whether due to limited resources or editorial bias, they are effectively absent from the public’s political imagination.
From front pages to Facebook feeds, week one of the presidential campaigns shows how both legacy and digital media have converged into a single, dominant narrative which is that of President Paul Biya and the CPDM.
What was once the domain of state-controlled newspapers has now expanded into private and citizen media spaces, creating a powerful, well-coordinated campaign echo across all channels.
Yet, amid this flood of content, the true measure of democracy lies not in the volume of one voice but in the audibility of all others. As Cameroonians scroll, read, and watch their way to election day, one question remains pressing: Are citizens being informed, or merely persuaded?
By Hilltopvoices Editorial team
Email: hilltopvoicesnewspaper@gmail.com
Tel: 6 94 71 85 77
I have read through your systematic review and comprehensive analysis of the media coverage of the ongoing presidential campaigns. I wish to say that it's the tragedy of democracy when the media is conditioned to serve a particular viewpoint of the incumbent candidate. It is really slanted and glaring transactional news coverage. Indeed, when the media coverage serves a particular viewpoint, it creates a biased information ecosystem that can underestimate and undermine democracy, reinforce prejudices, and distort public perception. Audiences are fed a narrow perspective, which may promote certain agendas, silence opposing views, and hinder their ability to make informed decisions. This manipulation of information can foster public opinions that benefit the status quo and restricts a balanced understanding of events and issues.
ReplyDeleteA biased media coverage fails to provide the public with the necessary information to make informed decisions about policies and candidates, which is crucial for a functioning democracy.
The constant repetition of a specific viewpoint can solidify existing misconceptions and prejudices, such as those surrounding ideological differences, by focusing on sensationalized and sentimental aspects.
The media's framing of stories and selection of facts can create an echo chamber, influencing what the public thinks and discusses and favoring specific ideas or policies.
The elitist individuals have leveraged the media to promote their messages and maintain dominance, making it difficult to challenge the status quo or advocate for change. I do not understand why the vibrant media has suddenly degenerated to project only a particular viewpoint. Something is fundamentally wrong.