Cameroon’s political landscape has been thrown into turmoil after the country’s electoral commission, ELECAM, confirmed the exclusion of prominent opposition figure Prof. Maurice Kamto from the list of approved candidates for the 2025 presidential election, scheduled for October.
The announcement has sparked outrage among opposition supporters, many of whom view Kamto, leader of the Cameroon Renaissance Movement (CRM), as the only candidate capable of challenging the long-ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM) and President Paul Biya, who has been in power for 43 years.
ELECAM’s decision comes amid growing discontent over the country’s political stagnation and worsening economic and social crises. Opposition groups have accused the CPDM government of manipulating the electoral process to eliminate credible challengers, fuelling fears that the exclusion could ignite widespread unrest.
Adding to tensions, Anicet Ekane, president of the National Democratic Front of Cameroon (MANIDEM), the party that nominated Kamto, has reportedly been placed under house arrest. The move has prompted further criticism from civil society groups, who accuse the government of using judicial and administrative measures to suppress dissent.
Observers warn that Kamto’s exclusion could push disillusioned citizens toward radical measures. In recent days, diaspora groups have called for demonstrations, while some activists have warned of the potential for escalating violence if political grievances remain unaddressed.
Critics argue that the CPDM’s decision risks destabilising the country further, particularly in light of ongoing conflicts in Cameroon’s Anglophone regions, where separatist violence has persisted for years. They also question the ruling party’s decision to field 93-year-old President Biya for another term, despite widespread calls for generational change within the CPDM.
The government has yet to respond to mounting calls for transparency and dialogue. Analysts caution that without steps to address rising anger, Cameroon could face a period of intensified political instability ahead of the October polls.
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