Cameroon's Biya Seeks Eighth Term Amid Opposition Leader's Exclusion
Cameroon's long-serving President Paul Biya, in power for 43 years, has announced his bid for an eighth term. However, the election process has been marred by controversy, with the exclusion of main opposition leader Maurice Kamto raising questions about fairness and impartiality.
Maurice Kamto, leader of the African Movement for New Independence and Democracy (MANIDEM), submitted his candidacy for the upcoming presidential election. However, his application was rejected by Elections Cameroon (ELECAM) due to a 'plurality of nominations'. Dieudonné Yebga also submitted his candidacy for the same election on MANIDEM's ticket, leading to Kamto's exclusion.
Kamto's exclusion has sparked hostilities and challenged the fairness of the electoral landscape. The decision has been criticized for its narrow formalism and selective interpretation of the law. The Constitutional Council, which upheld the exclusion, has faced accusations of bias and loss of legitimacy in the eyes of the public. Kamto's appeal to the Constitutional Council was dismissed, further deepening doubts about the process.
On 5 August 2025, the Cameroonian Constitutional Council upheld the exclusion of Maurice Kamto from the presidential election scheduled for 12 October 2025. The decision effectively eliminates the strongest opposition contender, placing further strains on Cameroon's democratic experiment. A consistent interpretation and application of the law is now required to restore public trust and support the democratic process.
