By Kamal Yalwa | July 27, 2025
YAOUNDÉ, Cameroon – Tensions are rising in Cameroon after the country’s electoral commission disqualified opposition leader Maurice Kamto from contesting the upcoming presidential election, a move that many fear could spark unrest and further entrench President Paul Biya’s decades-long rule.
The decision, announced Saturday by the head of the Elections Cameroon (ELECAM) during a press conference in Yaoundé, confirmed a list of 13 approved candidates, notably excluding Kamto—widely seen as Biya’s strongest challenger. No official reason was provided for his disqualification. Candidates who were not approved have two days to appeal the ruling.
Kamto, 71, submitted his candidacy last week under the African Movement for New Independence and Democracy (MANIDEM) after previously running in 2018 with his own party, the Cameroon Renaissance Movement (MRC). He finished second in that vote with 14 percent, while Biya, now 92, claimed a landslide win in a poll widely criticized for irregularities and low turnout.
The exclusion of Kamto has sparked concerns of protests and political instability. Security forces were quickly deployed around ELECAM headquarters, major intersections in Yaoundé, and the commercial capital Douala, in anticipation of public outcry.
On Friday, the United Nations Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) had issued a warning about possible demonstrations following the candidate list announcement.
President Biya—Africa’s oldest serving leader—confirmed last month that he would seek an eighth term in office during the October 12 election, despite ongoing concerns over his health and growing public dissatisfaction.
Cameroon has faced mounting crises under Biya’s rule, including widespread corruption, economic stagnation, and a violent separatist conflict in its English-speaking regions that has displaced tens of thousands and left a generation of children without access to education.
Among the candidates approved by ELECAM are former Prime Minister Bello Bouba Maigari, a long-time Biya ally, and Issa Tchiroma Bakary, who resigned from his post as Minister of Employment in June to pursue the presidency.
The final candidate list will be confirmed in the coming days following any appeals.
