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In a groundbreaking moment for Cameroon’s political history, seven women have officially declared their candidacy for the country’s highest office in the upcoming 2025 presidential election—marking a rare shift in a landscape traditionally dominated by male contenders.
The submission period for candidates closed on July 21, ahead of the scheduled election on October 12, 2025. According to the Elections Cameroon (Elecam) commission, a total of 81 applications were received, with 55 coming from political parties and 26 from independent hopefuls.
Men continue to dominate the field numerically, accounting for 74 of the applications, while women make up the remaining seven—a modest yet significant figure.
These seven female candidates represent a diverse mix of political backgrounds and ambitions. They include:
Eliane Véronique Eboutou, representing the Participation Nationale pour une Action Citoyenne au Cameroun (PNACC);
Mbengono Zouame Epse Ndzie Ngono Guyleine, an independent candidate;
Géneviève Zeh Amvene, also running independently and the only one among the group with prior presidential experience, having participated in the 2018 election;
Géraldine Ongmakagne Heu, independent;
Tomaïno Ndam Njoya, candidate of the Union Démocratique du Cameroun;
Chantale Adélaïde Membouet, representing the UNIVERS party;
Martine Danielle Befolo Essono, running under the banner of the Mouvement Populaire pour l’Émergence du Cameroun (MPEC).
These candidates have responded to growing calls for women to engage actively in politics at all levels. For six of them, this election marks their first foray into the presidential race, signaling a generational and gender-driven change in the Cameroonian political sphere.
As the country prepares for a fiercely contested election, the presence of these “Amazons” on the ballot is not just a symbolic step—it is a testament to the increasing momentum behind female political leadership in Cameroon.
