In Tanzania, the government’s imposition of a nationwide communications blackout just hours after contested elections has not only threatened the right to freedom of expression, it is also inflicting serious harm on commerce and trade. Tanzania serves as a major East African port and logistics hub; when mobile and internet networks, as well as transport systems, are shut down, supply chains stall, informal traders face collapse, and workers are abruptly cut off from their livelihoods.

In Cameroon, the aftermath of the presidential election held on 12 October has triggered violent protests in several cities, restrictions on communication, arrests of demonstrators, and credible reports of excessive use of force by security agents. The declared re-election of President Paul Biya has been widely rejected by the opposition, which alleges widespread electoral malpractice. These developments are creating an atmosphere of political instability and economic uncertainty, thereby deepening grievances and disrupting the daily lives of ordinary citizens.
ITUC-Africa strongly condemns the actions of governments that have chosen force and intimidation over dialogue and accountability. We are concerned and must guard against the return to autocratic governance, which undermines not only the principles of democracy but also the very foundation upon which social and economic progress rests.

Equally, we are concerned by the complacency of Regional Economic Communities (RECs) — including the East African Community and the Economic Community of Central African States — whose early warning signals of insecurity are weak, and their peace-building mechanisms appear to be similarly weak. These RECSs must move from issuing routine statements and step into the terrain of meaningful action to prevent or resolve crises that threaten peace, livelihoods, and labour rights.
At the same time, ITUC-Africa condemns the destructive responses by certain sections of the population, who have resorted to vandalism, looting, and attacks on public infrastructure in an attempt to express their anger. These actions are autolytic — self-destructive — and harm the very social fabric and economic productivity they claim to defend.

In the current political situation, it is understandable for citizens to be frustrated and angry. However, we want to caution that burning public infrastructure, blocking transport routes, and attacking essential services deepen the suffering of ordinary workers, women, and young people whose livelihoods depend on stability and functioning institutions. Though difficult, we urge the people to utilise their anger constructively and refrain from acts of vandalism and wanton destruction of public and private properties. It is possible to seek and successfully utilise non-violent means to resolve discontent. We encourage everyone connected to the current disputes in these countries to embrace dialogue.

We are all too aware that when situations in these countries spiral out of control, leading to instability, workers bear the brunt, losing jobs, income, and security. At the same time, women, who form the backbone of local economies, face increased risks and reduced opportunities for survival and participation. Transportation systems, supply chains, and market access are disrupted. In both Tanzania and Cameroon, the economy is now in dire straits and virtually at a standstill, as fear and uncertainty have replaced dialogue and trust.
ITUC-Africa calls upon the African Union (AU) and the relevant RECs to act urgently and decisively. They must intervene through credible mediation, demand respect for human rights and constitutional order, and hold leaders accountable for violence and abuse of power.
We remind African governments that stability cannot be built on repression. We also caution our citizens to note that freedom cannot be defended through destruction. Once again, we call for urgent dialogue between and among the parties to the current political impasses in these countries.

As a Pan-African organisation of workers, ITUC-Africa will continue to monitor, react, and report to relevant standards-bearing mechanisms such as the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the United Nations, and other credible mechanisms on violations of labour, democratic, and human rights arising from these crises.

Once again, we reaffirm our commitment to defending participatory, multiparty democracy, peace, justice, and social dialogue as the only sustainable pathways to democratic stability and shared prosperity in Tanzania, Cameroon, and the entire African continent, as well as the global human community.

Akhator Joel Odigie
General Secretary, ITUC-Africa
Lomé, Togo