YAOUNDÉ, Cameroon (BN24) — Cameroon’s electoral commission has barred opposition leader Maurice Kamto from contesting the country’s October 12 presidential election, a move that intensifies fears of political unrest and increases the likelihood of another term for longtime President Paul Biya.
The national elections body, known as ELECAM, announced Saturday that it had approved 13 candidates for the ballot. Kamto, the prominent head of the Cameroon Renaissance Movement (MRC) and a former government minister, was not among them. The commission offered no explanation for his exclusion, though it confirmed that Biya, 92, will once again be a candidate.
Kamto, who placed a distant second in the 2018 presidential race with 14% of the vote, was widely regarded as Biya’s main challenger. His disqualification is expected to fuel public outrage and deepen skepticism over the credibility of the upcoming election, already shadowed by past accusations of fraud and voter suppression.
Cameroon has been ruled by Biya since 1982, making him one of the world’s longest-serving leaders and currently the oldest head of state still in power. Last month, despite persistent rumors about his declining health, Biya announced his intention to run again, sparking both domestic criticism and international concern.
The political environment surrounding Saturday’s announcement was tense. Security forces were heavily deployed throughout the capital Yaoundé and the commercial hub Douala, particularly around ELECAM’s headquarters and major roadways. The United Nations Department of Safety and Security had issued a warning Friday, anticipating that the publication of the candidate list could provoke demonstrations.
While Kamto has not publicly reacted, he has two days to file an appeal challenging ELECAM’s decision. His exclusion, if upheld, would effectively remove the most formidable opposition to Biya’s decades-long rule.
Biya’s administration has been marred by recurring allegations of corruption and has struggled to manage a separatist conflict in the country’s English-speaking regions. That crisis has displaced tens of thousands and shuttered schools, adding to widespread discontent.
As the country edges closer to the election, the removal of a high-profile opposition figure has stirred fears of further instability in a nation already gripped by political and social upheaval.
