Eight people were killed in government crack-downs on pro-democracy demonstrations. Nearly 300 students were arrested for demonstrating at the University of Yaoundé. On June 25, a coalition of opposition parties, the National Coordination Committee of Opposition Parties (NCCOP), organized a nationwide strike (“Operation Ghost Town”) to shut down transportation services, ports, shops, and businesses. Opposition leaders called on President Biya to organize a national conference for political plurality. In response, the Government sent military commanders to forcibly break up political activities.
On October 30, the Tripartite Conference convened, and a body of seven Francophone leaders and four Anglophone leaders was created to evaluate and rewrite the constitution. The President agreed to call national elections.