Maurice Kamto Barred from Cameroon's Presidential Election, Fueling Unrest Fears
Maurice Kamto, a prominent opposition figure and the main challenger to long-serving President Paul Biya, has been denied the right to contest in Cameroon's upcoming presidential election on October 12, 2025. Cameroon's electoral commission, ELECAM, announced the rejection of his candidacy on Saturday, July 26, 2025, a decision that is already fuelling fears of unrest in the West African nation and increasing the likelihood of another victory for the 92-year-old incumbent, Paul Biya.
Details of the Exclusion:
ELECAM's Announcement: The chief of ELECAM announced the decision during a news conference, reading out a list of 13 approved candidates that conspicuously did not include Kamto.
No Reason Given: Crucially, no specific reasons were immediately provided for Kamto's exclusion. This lack of transparency has drawn criticism and adds to suspicions surrounding the electoral process.
Appeal Period: Those whose candidacies were rejected, including Kamto, have two days to appeal the decision to the Constitutional Council.
Kamto's Background: Maurice Kamto, 71, is a retired academic and lawyer. He was considered President Biya's strongest rival in past elections, having notably come second in the 2018 presidential election with 14% of the vote. That election was widely criticized for allegations of fraud and low voter turnout. Kamto was also famously imprisoned for several months in 2019 for protesting the 2018 election results.
Party Affiliation: For the 2025 election, Kamto had been nominated as the presidential candidate by the African Movement for New Independence and Democracy (MANIDEM). In 2018, he ran under his own party, the Cameroon Renaissance Movement (MRC), which he established in 2012. Some reports suggest ELECAM may have barred him because the MRC boycotted legislative and municipal elections in 2020, making it ineligible to nominate a candidate.
Context of the Election:
President Paul Biya: President Paul Biya, 92, is the world's oldest serving head of state and has been in power since 1982. He announced his intention to seek re-election for an eighth term on July 11, 2025. His extended tenure has been enabled by a 2008 constitutional amendment that abolished presidential term limits.
Approved Candidates: Among the 13 candidates approved to run are former Prime Minister Bello Bouba Maigari, and Issa Tchiroma Bakary, who resigned as employment minister in early June to submit his candidacy.
Political Climate: The upcoming election is taking place in a tense political environment. Biya's rule has faced allegations of corruption and a deadly secessionist conflict in the nation's English-speaking provinces.
Security Measures: Fears of protests and unrest surged around Saturday's release of the list of approved candidates. Security forces were visibly deployed around the ELECAM headquarters and along major roads in Yaoundé, the capital, and in Douala, the economic hub, reflecting official concerns about public reaction. The United Nations Department of Safety and Security had issued a warning on Friday that the announcement could trigger protests.
Implications of Kamto's Exclusion:
Increased Likelihood of Biya Victory: With his strongest challenger removed from the ballot, President Biya's path to an eighth term appears even clearer, raising concerns among critics about the fairness of the electoral process.
Risk of Unrest: The exclusion of a popular opposition leader without clear justification is a significant catalyst for public discontent and could lead to protests and instability, particularly given the already tense political climate and the history of post-election protests in Cameroon.
Concerns for Democracy: International observers and human rights groups are likely to voice concerns about the democratic credibility of the election in light of this development.
The coming days will be critical as Maurice Kamto and his legal team decide on their appeal strategy to challenge ELECAM's decision.
