Cameroon’s top opposition figure, Maurice Kamto, has been barred from participating in the country’s upcoming presidential election, a move that has drawn sharp criticism and raised concerns over the integrity of the electoral process.
The announcement was made by the country’s electoral commission, ELECAM, which released a provisional list of 13 approved candidates at a press briefing on Saturday. Kamto’s name was notably absent from the list. No official reason was given for his disqualification, although affected aspirants have two days to appeal the decision.
Kamto, 71, had formally submitted his candidacy last week to run under the African Movement for New Independence and Democracy (MANIDEM), a leftist party. He previously contested the 2018 presidential election under the Cameroon Renaissance Movement (MRC), securing second place with 14 percent of the vote amid widespread allegations of electoral fraud and voter suppression.
The exclusion of Kamto, a leading critic of the regime, has sparked unrest in parts of the country, especially in the capital, Yaoundé, and the economic hub, Douala. Security forces have been deployed around ELECAM offices and major roads to forestall possible protests. The UN Department of Safety and Security had earlier warned that the announcement could trigger demonstrations.
A total of 83 aspirants reportedly filed applications for the October 12 election, but only 13 were cleared. The final list will be published after the appeal period concludes.
Meanwhile, President Paul Biya, now 92 years old and in power since 1982, confirmed his bid for an eighth term last month, despite mounting concerns about his age, health, and decades-long authoritarian rule. Biya remains the world’s oldest sitting head of state.
His administration has faced sustained criticism for corruption, political repression, and its handling of the violent separatist conflict in the English-speaking regions of the country, which has displaced thousands and disrupted education and daily life.
Among the approved candidates are former Prime Minister Bello Bouba Maigari, a longtime ally of Biya, and Issa Tchiroma Bakary, who resigned as employment minister in June to contest the election.
The disqualification of Kamto is expected to heighten political tensions and calls into question the credibility of Cameroon’s electoral process.
