Politics goes viral: how Cameroon’s 2025 election is playing out on TikTok and Reels 🇨🇲🗳️

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As Cameroon gears up for its 2025 presidential election, the political battlefield looks very different this time. From Issa Tchiroma’s digital revival to Cabral Libii’s “orange wave” and the opposition’s mega rallies, offline mobilization is in full swing.
But another, quieter, and arguably more impactful campaign is unfolding — on social media.

In recent weeks, the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM) has ramped up its online presence with a flood of short, fast-paced videos. Gone are the long-winded press statements; in their place, snappy visuals and trending sounds aimed squarely at the digital generation.
It’s a shift that blends politics with pop culture — and, so far, it’s working.

Pop beats over politics 🎵

The breakout star of this new wave is Germaine La Douce. Her song “Je m’envolerai pour voter Popol” (“I’ll take off to vote for Popol”) has exploded online, with over 350,000 views on TikTok, 70,000 on Facebook Reels, and 20,000 shares in just two weeks.

Remixed by influencers and used in TikTok challenges, the track has now amassed more than 800,000 total views. It’s become impossible to scroll without stumbling upon it — often accompanied by dance moves, memes, or filters that turn a campaign slogan into a full-blown cultural moment.

For Chantal, a 23-year-old student in Yaoundé, this digital twist has changed how she perceives politics:

“I never watched videos from the CPDM or any party before. Now it’s entertaining. Even if I don’t agree with everything, it’s everywhere on my feed — and it makes me curious.”

It’s a lighter, youth-friendly approach that’s pushing politics into the country’s everyday digital culture. Whether intentional or not, the viral nature of these clips has given the ruling party an unexpected boost in visibility.

The “Paul Biya chocolate” and the hashtag wave 🍫

Another viral moment came from Céleste Victorien, a Cameroonian influencer based in Canada. In a humorous TikTok video, he joked about the “Paul Biya chocolate”, a playful take that racked up half a million views in just a few hours.
Soon, hashtags like #Popol2025, #Biya2025, #WinBiya2025, and #ChocolatPaulBiya started flooding Instagram stories, TikTok edits, and even WhatsApp statuses.

From Douala to Ebolowa, young creators — many of whom aren’t politically affiliated — began posting selfies, memes, and clips inspired by these trends, chasing engagement more than ideology.

“Parties have realized politics doesn’t just happen on stages anymore,” says Arnaud, a community manager. “It’s in TikTok comments, in WhatsApp groups, in viral loops — that’s where opinions are being shaped now.”

Even campaign gadgets, redesigned for meme potential, are gaining traction online. Analysts say this digital shift has made political messaging more accessible — and less formal — than ever before.

A calculated (but not exclusive) strategy 🎯

Behind this digital makeover lies a clear communications playbook. The CPDM has started partnering with influencers and content creators to spread its message — not through speeches, but through humor, music, and everyday conversation.
It’s politics disguised as entertainment.

But it’s not the only party going digital. The Cameroon Party for National Reconciliation (PCRN) and the Cameroon Renaissance Movement (CRM) are also experimenting with contents aimed at younger voters.
The result is a broader digitalization of Cameroonian politics, where every party is racing to stay relevant in the algorithm.

“Young Cameroonians are wary of traditional political talk,” explains Aline Mvondo, a political communication specialist. “Parties are adapting to their codes — humor, authenticity, music. It’s a way of making politics more ‘consumable.’”

With more than 60% of internet users in Cameroon under 35 — and most getting their news via smartphone — the strategy makes sense. A single viral post can now reach thousands, even beyond the country’s borders.

From views to votes? 🗳️

Still, one big question remains: do online views translate into actual votes?

For Martin, a political science student, it’s not that simple:

“Being popular online doesn’t mean much if your followers aren’t registered voters. Digital engagement doesn’t automatically turn into political participation.”

Others warn of the downsides — from misinformation to the rise of shallow “meme politics,” where viral content overshadows substance.
But whether politicians like it or not, the digital battlefield is now as critical as the physical one. Social media has become an unavoidable tool for influence and mobilization.

A new era of political communication 🌐

By embracing the language of the internet, Cameroonian political parties are opening a new chapter in how campaigns are run.
Posters are giving way to TikToks. Influencers are becoming spokespersons. And elections are being fought not just in rallies — but in Reels, comments, and hashtags.

Whether this digital evolution marks a passing trend or a lasting transformation remains to be seen.
But one thing’s for sure: part of Cameroon’s 2025 presidential race will play out on a smartphone screen.

👉🏾 Do you think social media campaigns can really sway election results in Cameroon? Drop your thoughts in the comments.