By Franck Essi

NB: Text dedicated to the vast majority of citizens who desire change but lack the courage to take direct confrontational action.

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Cameroon is going through one of the darkest moments in its contemporary history. After a presidential election marred by massive fraud and state violence, fear has once again descended on the country. Arbitrary arrests, intimidation, raids in working-class neighbourhoods, summary executions: the repressive machine is running at full speed. Faced with this onslaught, many are asking themselves: what can be done? What can an individual do in the face of a regime that seems to control, stifle and crush everything?

The answer is not simple. But it always begins with the refusal to resign oneself to the situation.

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1. Refuse organised fear

The first victory of authoritarian power is to instil fear in people’s hearts. Fear of speaking out, fear of acting, fear of losing one’s job, fear of being arrested. Yet no dictatorship falls as long as fear dominates the people. The founding act of individual resistance is therefore to disobey this fear internally. This does not mean throwing oneself recklessly into danger, but refusing to be paralysed.

Resisting fear is already a political act. It means continuing to think freely, to speak courageously, to not hide in order to tell the truth. It means keeping alive the idea that we are free beings and that no power has the right to steal that freedom from us.

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2. Protecting the truth and free speech

At a time when propaganda is attempting to rewrite reality, telling the truth becomes an act of resistance. We must speak out, bear witness, inform and document. Everyone can be a lucid and dignified witness.

Within their family circle, on social media, in their neighbourhood, at work — enlightened citizens become guardians of the collective truth.

Repression seeks to isolate and silence. Let us not give it that victory. Let us continue to tell what we see, to denounce what we know, to name things without fear or hatred.

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3. Support victims and prisoners

Every arrest, every humiliation is aimed at breaking collective morale. One of the most powerful responses is active solidarity.

A message of support, a visit, a contribution to a defence fund, passing on information: these simple gestures weave a web of fraternity that the regime cannot destroy.

The dictatorship wants isolated individuals. Let us choose to remain human.

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4. Cultivate your lucidity and inner strength

Resistance is not limited to visible action. It is nourished by inner work. Read, educate yourself, understand.

In times of chaos, conscious citizens must strengthen their ability to analyse, to reason, and to resist rumours and manipulation.

Inform yourself, reflect, meditate, write: these are all acts that strengthen the mind and prevent you from sinking into despair.

Resistance also means remaining lucid when everything around you is in turmoil.

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5. Choose dignity over complicity

In authoritarian systems, many remain silent or collaborate in order to ‘survive’. But survival without dignity is only a slow death.

Let us not be the tools of repression or the relays of fear. Let us refuse unjust orders. Let us refuse to betray our conscience for a salary or a position.

Everyone, in their own role – teacher, journalist, civil servant, shopkeeper, soldier – can choose loyalty to the people over loyalty to tyranny.

The fall of a regime always begins with the moral desertion of those who served its fear.

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6. Preserve faith in tomorrow

Finally, keep hope alive. Not naive illusion, but the conviction that every night eventually gives way to dawn.

Regimes of fear always fall. What lasts is the quiet courage of those who, in silence or in the light, stood firm.

Our strength is the sum of our small acts of dignity, repeated every day, despite fear, despite violence, despite everything.

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My conviction: history always begins with one individual standing tall

Great transformations are not born of crowds, but of awakened consciences.

A people rises up when thousands of individuals decide, each at their own level, to say no to fear, yes to truth, yes to dignity.

This is how silent revolutions are born, those that pave the way for true liberation.

— Franck Essi

#WeHaveTheChoice

#WeHaveThePower

#Let’sTurnOnOurBrains