Maurice Kamto, a key opposition figure in Cameroon, has been disqualified from the upcoming presidential election set for October 12. President Paul Biya, 92, continues to pursue his long-standing presidency despite widespread calls for his resignation.
Exclusion of Maurice Kamto from Presidential Race Raises Tensions in Cameroon
Exclusion of Maurice Kamto from Presidential Race Raises Tensions in Cameroon
Opposition leader barred from the October elections, leaving President Biya to seek eighth term amid allegations of electoral misconduct.
Cameroon's political landscape has taken a dramatic turn as opposition leader Maurice Kamto has been barred from participating in the presidential election scheduled for October 12. The country's electoral body, Elecam, accepted only 13 candidates out of 83 submissions, leaving Kamto, a prominent figure who placed second in the 2018 elections, excluded from the race.
Kamto's disqualification follows a tumultuous party affiliation transition; he previously represented the Cameroon Renaissance Movement (CRM) but switched to the Manidem party, which holds parliamentary and local council representation. Due to the registration of another candidate from a splinter faction under the same party name, Kamto was not included in the accepted candidates.
President Paul Biya, the world's oldest serving president at 92, is once again on the list of candidates, vying for an unprecedented eighth term despite his nearly four-decade rule. He continues to maintain that he has significant contributions to make to Cameroon, defying public pressure to resign.
Competing against Biya are two former allies from the north, Issa Tchiroma Bakary and Bello Bouba Maigari, both of whom are expected to attract a substantial number of votes. Meanwhile, Manidem's president Anicet Ekane criticized Kamto's exclusion as "arbitrary and provocative," urging citizens to remain calm as they consider legal options to contest the decision.
In addition to Kamto, other candidates cleared to contest the election include renowned lawyer Akere Muna, Social Democratic Front (SDF) leader Joshua Osih, and Cabral Libii, with the only female candidate being the spirited Mayor of Foumban, Patricia Tomaino Ndam Njoya.
As allegations of electoral fraud linger following the last presidential election, the atmosphere is charged leading up to October's vote, leaving many citizens concerned about the legitimacy and fairness of the electoral process in Cameroon.
