Former U.S. Under-Secretary of State Tibor Nagy has stated that Issa Tchiroma is the "likely winner" of the recent Cameroonian presidential election. This declaration from a historical figure in American diplomacy in Africa comes as the official results of the October 12, 2025 presidential election give Paul Biya the victory with 53.66% of the vote, compared to 35.19% for Issa Tchiroma.
Tibor Nagy, who served as the U.S. Ambassador to Guinea and Ethiopia, met with Alice Nkom, a Cameroonian lawyer and emblematic figure of human rights, who now presents herself as the official spokesperson for Issa Tchiroma. Nagy called Nkom a "heroine" and made this meeting public on his personal account.
Issa Tchiroma, former Minister of Communication and government spokesperson, has seen his candidacy contested despite his claim of victory. Tibor Nagy claims to have solid evidence contradicting the official results.
Tibor Nagy is not an ordinary observer. He directed the Office of African Affairs at the U.S. Department of State. His status as professor emeritus and career diplomat gives special weight to his statements. When he mentions solid evidence, he steps out of the realm of personal opinion and into that of attestation.
This intervention comes in a context of post-election tensions in Cameroon, where the electoral process has been criticized by several international organizations. The lack of consensus on the results has opened a space where retired diplomatic figures can intervene without official protocol. Nagy is using this status to validate an alternative version of the facts.
By recognizing an unofficial winner, a former senior U.S. official offers diplomatic cover to the opposition, bypassing official channels for recognizing results. This tactic keeps a claim alive beyond national borders. Issa Tchiroma's supporters may feel legitimized by a credible American source.
With the credibility of Cameroonian electoral processes already fragile, external validation of a contested victory durably weakens confidence in national institutions. American diplomacy, even unofficial, is becoming an actor on the domestic political scene. It remains to be seen whether this guarantee will be enough to influence the political balance on the ground.
