A dramatic rupture has unfolded within the Cameroon National Salvation Front (FSNC) as Ousmanou Aman Sa’aly, known as Yerima Dewa, has officially launched his own political party, the All Cameroonian Congressists (ACC), marking the end of his longstanding alliance with FSNC leader Issa Tchiroma Bakary.
The split, long anticipated after months of growing distance, was cemented on July 8, 2025, when the Minister of Territorial Administration granted formal authorization for the ACC to operate, with its headquarters established in Ngaoundéré.
Yerima Dewa, mayor of Pitoa and formerly the FSNC’s second-in-command, had seen his influence diminish following a party restructuring in March 2025, when Tchiroma removed the vice-president position he held and reassigned him as national secretary for organization—a move Dewa publicly criticized for being imposed without consultation.
“I discovered the changes within the party through social media,” he told the press, underscoring the widening rift.
Political observers in Cameroon’s northern region view Dewa as a key financial backer of the FSNC, making his departure a significant blow to the party’s strength.
The split is expected to ignite fierce competition between the two leaders for dominance over the strategically important Northern region, particularly the Benoué department, where the FSNC has historically enjoyed electoral success.
Since the 2020 municipal and legislative elections, FSNC controls crucial localities including Lagdo, Pitoa, and Ouro, narrowly missing Bibemi and Garoua 3.
Yerima Dewa played a pivotal role in these gains. Now, with the ACC’s entry, both men are poised for a high-stakes battle to consolidate power against the backdrop of competition with the ruling RDPC and the UNDP.
This political fracture signals a new chapter in northern Cameroon’s landscape, as former allies turn rivals in the quest for regional influence and control.
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