Cameroon's Opposition Leader Barred from Presidential Race Against Longtime President Biya

In a surprising decision from Cameroon's electoral authority, Maurice Kamto has been removed from the list of candidates for the presidential election scheduled for October 12. This decision comes despite Kamto's position as the main challenger to President Paul Biya in the last election, where he finished second amidst claims of electoral fraud. With Biya, the world’s oldest president at 92 years old, vying for his eighth term, Kamto's exclusion further amplifies concerns regarding the democratic process in Cameroon.

Only 13 out of the 83 candidates submitted were accepted, and the reasons behind Kamto's disqualification were not disclosed. Having previously represented the Cameroon Renaissance Movement (CRM), which was barred from endorsing candidates due to its lack of parliamentary representation, Kamto had recently aligned with the Manidem party, which boasts local representatives. Other participating candidates include notable figures such as renowned anti-corruption lawyer Akere Muna, Social Democratic Front (SDF) leader Joshua Osih, and Cabral Libii. The only female candidate in the race is firebrand Mayor of Foumban, Patricia Tomaino Ndam Njoya.

Candidates deemed disqualified have just two days to appeal to the constitutional council, leaving a narrow window for potential recourse in a heavily scrutinized election process where Biya's dominance has sparked outrage and demands for reform within the country's political landscape.