Maurice Kamto, the country’s most recognized opposition leader, has been effectively barred from contesting Cameroon’s forthcoming presidential election next month. He is a prominent challenger to the long-serving President Paul Biya. The electoral commission’s reasons for rejecting Kamto’s candidacy are still unknown. At 71 years old, Kamto is joined by a recent nomination from the communist African Movement for New Independence and Democracy (MANIDEM) party. We’re glad he’ll be fighting for them in the primary election this spring.
Kamto’s political journey has been writing history through major successes and defeats. He used to head his own opposition party, the Cameroon Renaissance Movement (MRC), which he created in 2012. In the 2018 presidential election, he secured 14 percent of the vote. This remarkable outcome earned him the number two slot in the contest against Biya, who has held power for over 40 years. This political history set him up as an even greater opponent within the tumultuous political landscape of Cameroon.
Last week, Kamto officially registered his candidacy with the elections board, looking to capitalize on his strong electoral showing from last time. In making that determination, the commission voted to disqualify him from the primary contest. This decision has alarmed his core supporters and political pundits in unison. The uncertainty around why he was excluded only adds to the founded fear and anxiety surrounding the exclusionary nature of elections.
The electoral commission could hardly have made its ruling at a more critical juncture. Kamto now has only 48 hours to file a legal appeal against this decision. His defenders are already registering their outrage. They fear that this is the attempt to silence voices of opposition in a country with democracy under fire on so many fronts.
