Anicet Ekanè, leader of the African Movement for New Independence and Democracy (MANIDEM), has publicly confirmed his support for opposition figure Maurice Kamto in Cameroon’s upcoming presidential election, set for 12 October 2025.
Appearing on STV, Ekanè delivered a pointed speech outlining the significance of the alliance, describing it as a strategic partnership built to challenge the country’s entrenched political establishment.
He underscored the need to move beyond the ethnic and tribal divisions that have long defined Cameroonian politics. “In MANIDEM there is no member from my department except the one you know, so I do not know tribalism. We do not have an ethnic coloring, we have gone beyond that,” Ekanè stated, signalling a commitment to a broader, unifying political approach.
According to Ekanè, his collaboration with Kamto, leader of the Cameroon Renaissance Movement (MRC), began seven months ago and is rooted in shared values, including a vision for national sovereignty and a call to “return Cameroon to Cameroonians.” He emphasised Kamto’s central role in the nation’s current political moment, positioning him as a credible alternative to the long-ruling establishment.
Turning to the election itself, Ekanè expressed confidence in the Constitutional Council, despite its members’ affiliations with the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (RDPC). “I am convinced that some members of this institution, despite their membership in the RDPC, retain an attachment to the country that will protect them from political manipulation,” he said.
Rejecting the policies of the current government, Ekanè described the state of the nation as marked by “misery” and “poverty,” conditions he insisted affect all Cameroonians, including supporters of the ruling party.
Drawing parallels with historic independence leaders such as Ruben Um Nyobé and Ernest Ouandié, Ekanè framed the MANIDEM-MRC alliance as a beacon of hope for citizens seeking political change and a break from the country’s decades-long status quo.
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