Libii Heads to Bamenda Tomorrow With Bold Peace Pledge

Libii announced last week in Douala: “If elected President, I’m ready to leave Etoudi palace and take my residence in the NWR or SWR if that will bring peace and stop the war in the Anglophone regions.” It is a statement that has electrified his base and unsettled his critics.

The Bamenda gamble
The rally, scheduled for 3:00 p.m. on October 2 at the Commercial Avenue Grandstand, comes in the tense aftermath of Ambazonia’s symbolic Independence Day on October 1. For decades, this date has been met with repression, arrests, and clashes. By deliberately placing his rally the next day, Libii frames himself as the candidate unafraid to engage communities where Yaoundé has preferred silence or force.

His campaign managers, Barrister Tamfu Richard and Blaise Kwajika, are already on the ground coordinating logistics. They promise a “wave of orange” through the streets of Bamenda — a test of both courage and political resonance.

The manifesto: Libii’s promise of federalism and reform
At the center of Cabral Libii’s platform is what he calls “community-based federalism.” Unlike the rigid centralism of the Biya era, Libii proposes devolving real powers to regions, allowing them to manage land, local development, and education in ways that reflect their unique cultures. He insists this is the only way to solve the Anglophone crisis: by giving the North-West and South-West not empty promises, but constitutional guarantees.

Beyond federalism, Libii’s manifesto outlines:

• Peace and security: dialogue with armed groups, reintegration of fighters, and a rebuilt defense system.

• Economic revival: creation of jobs through digital economy hubs, infrastructure projects, and land title reforms.

• Healthcare and education: accessible hospitals, modern schools, and investment in technical and vocational training.

• Army modernization: introduction of the “Global Fire Telecommunication System” (GFTS) for real-time coordination, creation of military retirement funds (CASHOF), and service obligations for youth.

• Anti-corruption: stricter audits of state enterprises and prosecution of embezzlement cases.

His supporters describe this as the first comprehensive alternative to Biya’s system in 40 years. Critics argue that Libii overpromises and underestimates the resistance of entrenched elites.

Symbolism and stakes
By choosing Bamenda, Libii is walking into both risk and opportunity. The city has been the epicenter of the Anglophone crisis since 2016. Hosting a mass rally here not only tests his appeal among skeptical Anglophones but also shows whether his federalism message has traction beyond rhetoric.

Analysts also note that Cabral Libii is positioning himself differently from rivals:

• Joshua Osih of the SDF appeals to nostalgia and long-time opposition loyalty, but his Bamenda rally flopped compared to Bafoussam.

• Bello Bouba is gathering allies like Akere Muna and Ateki Seta but is seen as part of the old guard.

• Issa Tchiroma seeks to consolidate northern votes.

Libii is staking his candidacy on youth, bold reforms, and the ability to bridge Cameroon’s fractured map.

A turning point?
Tomorrow’s rally could mark a turning point. A strong turnout will project Libii as the only opposition leader capable of rallying both Francophone and Anglophone voters. A weak showing will fuel skepticism that he is another outsider exploiting the conflict for political mileage.

For now, one thing is certain: October 2 in Bamenda will not just be another campaign stop. It will be a litmus test of Cabral Libii’s courage, his federalist vision, and his promise to put himself — quite literally — in the line of fire for peace.