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YAOUNDÉ — With less than three months to go before Cameroon’s presidential election, the political field is rapidly filling up.
As of 19 July 2025, Elections Cameroon (Elecam) has registered no fewer than 27 presidential hopefuls—many of them prominent opposition figures—setting the stage for what could be one of the most crowded races in the nation’s electoral history.
The large number of candidates has reignited a familiar debate within Cameroonian political circles: does this fragmentation among opposition forces strengthen or undermine the challenge to the ruling establishment?
The symbolic imagery captured by local media likens the scenario to a “flock of chicks squawking at the hawk”—a pointed metaphor that questions whether a divided opposition can pose a real threat to the ruling elite, long dominated by President Paul Biya’s party, which has held power since 1982.
Despite a visible surge in political ambition, analysts warn that without a unified front or coordinated strategy, opposition voices may drown one another out in the noise of political campaigning.
The crowded field risks splitting votes and inadvertently consolidating power in the hands of the incumbent party.
Many of the declared candidates come from diverse political backgrounds—ranging from long-time opposition veterans to fresh-faced independents aiming to rally youth support. While their platforms vary, common themes include constitutional reform, anti-corruption policies, and economic revitalization.
Elecam has yet to publish the final list of approved candidates pending eligibility verification. Still, the sheer volume of contenders reflects both a growing appetite for political change and the structural challenges facing opposition movements in Cameroon.
