Exclusion of Maurice Kamto, President Paul Biya’s main rival, has fuels fears of unrest in the West African nation.

Cameroon‘s electoral commission has rejected the candidacy of Maurice Kamto, President Paul Biya’s main rival, in an upcoming presidential election, fuelling fears of unrest and increasing the likelihood of another win for the incumbent, who has led for decades.

The chief of the electoral commission, ELECAM, announced the decision in a news conference on Saturday when he read out a list of 13 approved candidates, which did not include Kamto. No reasons were given for the exclusion, and those not listed have two days to appeal the decision.

Kamto, 71, who had officially submitted his candidacy last week, was considered Biya’s strongest rival in past elections. He came second during the last presidential election in 2018 with 14 percent of the vote, while Biya, who appears on the electoral list, cruised to victory with more than 70 percent in an election marred by allegations of fraud and a low voter turnout.

Kamto sought to run as the candidate for the communist African Movement for New Independence and Democracy (MANIDEM) party. In the 2018 election, Kamto stood for his own party, the Cameroon Renaissance Movement (MRC), which he established in 2012.

For this year’s election, Kamto had been nominated by MANIDEM.

Fears of protests and unrest surged around Saturday’s release of the list of approved candidates. Eighty-three names had been put forward to the electoral council.

Security forces were deployed around the ELECAM headquarters and along major roads in the capital, Yaounde, and in Douala, the economic hub.

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The United Nations Department of Safety and Security had warned on Friday that the announcement could trigger protests in the capital.

The definitive list of candidates will be announced in the coming days after any challenges to the provisional list are considered.

Biya, 92, the world’s oldest serving head of state, said last month he would seek re-election on October 12 despite rumours that his health is failing. He has been in power since 1982, nearly half his lifetime.

Biya’s rule has left a lasting impact on Cameroon. His government has faced various challenges, including allegations of corruption and a deadly secessionist conflict in the nation’s English-speaking provinces that has forced thousands out of school.

Among the candidates also approved to run in the election are former Prime Minister Bello Bouba Maigari, an ally of Biya’s for nearly 30 years, and Issa Tchiroma Bakary, who resigned as employment minister in early June to submit his candidacy.

Who be di candidates wey dey run for Cameroon election as Elecam disqualify Maurice Kamto

Wia dis foto come from, Getty/Hon. Tomaïno Ndam Njoya Facebook/Joshua Osih/X

26 July 2025

Cameroon Electoral Commission (ELECAM) don exclude Cameroon opposition leader Maurice Kamto from di list of candidates wey go contest for di October 12 presidential election.

According to di list wey di kontri electoral body release on Saturday, 26 July, dem only approve 13 out of di 83 candidates wey declare dia intention to run.

E neva dey clear why dem remove Kamto from di list, but di decision bin come afta e announce say im dey comot di Cameroon Renaissance Movement (CRM) party to join anoda party wey endorse am as candidate.

Bicos di CRM party no fit endorse candidate sake of say dem no get any elected representatives for parliament or local councils, e decide to join MANIDEM party, wey get local representation.

Who dey di list?

Wia dis foto come from, Cameroon presidential

92-year-old Cameroon President Paul Biya dey part of di candidates wey make di list.

Im former allies, Issa Tchiroma Bakary and Bello Bouba Maigari wey come from di vote-rich northern parts of di kontri also make di list.

Popular anti-corruption lawyer Akere Muna, Social Democratic Front (SDF) party leader Joshua Osih, lawmaker Cabral Libii also dey among di candidates wey go contest for di kontri top job.

Meanwhile, di firebrand mayor Patricia Tomaino Ndam Njoya na di only female candidate on di list.

Wia dis foto come from, CABRAL LIBII/Facebook

Cabral Libii – Presidential candidate Cameroon Party for National Reconciliation

Cabral Libii Li Ngué, wey dey known as Cabral Libii, na Cameroonian journalist, law lecturer and Member of Parliament dem elect for February 2020.

Dem born am on March 29, 1980 for Ekoamaen (Central Region, Cameroon)

E dey run for di October presidential election under di platform of di Cameroon Party for National Reconciliation (PCRN).

Oga Libii bin consistently reject di Cameroonian Electoral Code, wey allow Paul Biya to run again for president.

For 2017, e declare im candidacy to run for di 2018 Cameroonian presidential election. Dat na di first time e go run, and e be 38-year-old at di time, wey make di youngest candidate, wey Univers Party endorse.

E launch one bold campaign called “11 Million Registered Voters.”

As dem announce di election result, e officially receive 6.28% of di votes wey put am for di 3rd position,

But few months afta di presidential election, kasala burst between di am and di president of “Univers” party. Di president bin ask am to account for how e take manage di money for di presidential election.

Oga Libii later join di Cameroon Party for National Reconciliation (PCRN) and dem appoint am as head of di party for 2019. Dem later elect am as Member of Parliament during di municipal and legislative elections on February 9, 2020, plus four oda party members.

Wia dis foto come from, Osih Joshua/Facebook

Osih Joshua – Presidential candidate for Social Democratic Front (SDF)

Oga Joshua na Cameroonian businessman. Dem born am on on 9 December 1968 for South West region of Cameroon.

Osih join di Social Democratic Front (SDF) for March 1991 for Douala.

For 2002, dem elect am as di regional chairman of di Social Democratic Front for di South West region.

For 2006, dem elect am as di 2nd Vice Chairman of di party.

For 2012 and 2018, dem vote am as di 1st Vice Chairman of di party. During di 2018 Extra-ordinary convention of di party, di party select am as di presidential candidate for SDF.

Osih get MBA in Leadership and Sustainability, and e get more dan 25 years of experience in di aviation industry.

Osih na popular entrepreneur for Cameroon and di founder and managing directors of Camport PLC and Africa Travel Management.

Osih na member of di Cameroon Parliament for di Wouri Centre constituency in Douala.

E don serve as both Vice President of di Finance and Budget Committee of di National Assembly, and Special Rapporteur for di National Assembly.

Wia dis foto come from, Akere Muna/Facebook

Akere Tabeng Muna – Presidential candidate for Univers party

Akere Muna na di founder and former President of Transparency International (TI) Cameroon. E be lawyer by training.

For 2007-2008, dem appoint am as member of di independent High-Level Audit Panel of di African Union.

E be one former President of di Pan African Lawyers Union (2005-2014) and former President of di Cameroon Bar Association.

For January 2010, e dey elected to di Panel of Eminent Persons, wey dey oversee di African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM). E later become di Chairperson of di panel until di end of im tenure for 2014.

Akere Muna na member of di Governing Board of di Africa Governance Institute and serves, since 2013, as member of one High-Level Panel on Illicit Financial Flows from Africa, wey former South African President Thabo Mbeki dey lead.

E run for President for 2018 elections for Cameroon. E later form one coalition wit anoda candidate and e withdraw im candidacy in favor of di latter.

E continue im work on di AU High-Level Panel on Illicit Financial Flows from Africa, plus im work on anti-corruption and good governance across di globe.

Wia dis foto come from, Getty Images/ Kevin Dietsch

Paul Biya – Presidential candidate for Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (RDPC)

Paul Biya na di current president of Cameroon. Dem born am on 13 February 1933 for di village of Mvomeka’a, South region of Cameron.

Di 92-year-old don dey power for di past 43 years, since 6 November, 1982.

E graduate from Institut des hautes études d’Outre-Mer in 1961 wit Diploma degree in Public Law.

E serve under di goment of di former President Ahmadou Ahidjo.

In 1965, e serve as di Director of Cabinet of di Minister of National Education, Youth Affairs and Culture in January 1964 and later Director of di Civil Cabinet to di President in December 1967

E also serve as director of di Civil Cabinet and Secretary-General of to di Presidency of di Republic in January 1968.

Following di creation of unitary state in 1972, e become Prime Minister of Cameroon on 30 June 1975.

Afta, Ahidjo resign as president Biya on 4 November, 1982. E take ova power on 6 November, 1982 and e neva comot from power since den.

Ahead of di polls, critics don argue say plan bin dey to exclude Maurice Kamto wey come second for di 2018 presidential polls make e no challenge Oga Biya for dis year election.

Oga Biya wey pipo reason say na di favourite to win for di October election bin reject calls to step down, as e say im still get a lot to offer Cameroonians, even though e don dey for power for nearly 43 years.

Cameroon opposition leader banned from challenging world’s oldest president

President Paul Biya, 92, the world’s oldest president, was included on the list and will seek an eighth term in office.

Kamto came second in the 2018 elections amid allegations of fraud. He has not yet commented on the decision.

Only 13 of the 83 names submitted to the country’s electoral body Elecam were accepted.

Cameroon’s opposition leader Maurice Kamto has been excluded from the list of candidates in the 12 October presidential election.

Defying calls to step down, he says he still has a lot to offer Cameroonians despite being in power for nearly 43 years.

Biya will be challenged by two former allies, Issa Tchiroma Bakary and Bello Bouba Maigari, who both come from the vote-rich north of the country.

Kamto was excluded because he was one of two candidates registered to represent the Manidem party.

Even though he had been officially adopted by the party’s ruling body, another candidate from a splinter group also registered himself under the party’s name.

Manidem president Anicet Ekane described Kamto’s exclusion as “arbitrary and provocative”.

“We call on all Cameroonians to show calm and restraint because for the moment, it is only an offside goal. This tackle from behind must be sanctioned by the Constitutional Council which we will turn to,” he added.

Those disqualified from the presidential race have two days to file a legal challenge.

Kamto was the candidate for the Cameroon Renaissance Movement (CRM) in 2018 but the party was not allowed to endorse anyone this year due to its lack of elected representatives in parliament or local councils.

So Kamto recently joined the Manidem party, which does have local representation.

Renowned anti-corruption lawyer Akere Muna, Social Democratic Front (SDF) leader Joshua Osih, and lawmaker Cabral Libii are among the other candidates cleared to run.

Firebrand Mayor of Foumban Patricia Tomaino Ndam Njoya is the only female candidate on the list.

Cameroon’s main opposition figure, Maurice Kamto, has been barred from contesting in the country’s upcoming presidential election.

This decision has sparked concerns over potential unrest and strengthened expectations of another victory for incumbent President Paul Biya, who has ruled the Central African nation since 1982.

The country’s electoral commission, ELECAM, announced the provisional list of approved candidates at a press conference on Saturday, confirming 13 names—but excluding Kamto, according to AlJazeera.

No explanation was given for the rejection, although those disqualified have two days to file an appeal.

Kamto, 71, a prominent challenger in past elections, had officially submitted his candidacy the previous week. He came second in the 2018 presidential election with 14 percent of the vote, while Biya claimed over 70 percent amid widespread allegations of fraud and low voter turnout.

This time, Kamto sought to run as the candidate of the African Movement for New Independence and Democracy (MANIDEM), a communist party. In 2018, he ran under the banner of the Cameroon Renaissance Movement (MRC), which he founded in 2012.

His disqualification has triggered a wave of anxiety in the capital, Yaoundé, and across the country.

Security forces were deployed around ELECAM headquarters and along key roads in both Yaoundé and Douala, Cameroon’s commercial capital, in anticipation of protests. The United Nations Department of Safety and Security had earlier warned that the announcement could provoke demonstrations.

ELECAM said 83 candidates had submitted applications, but only 13 were approved. The final list will be published in the coming days after the resolution of any appeals.

President Biya, 92, the world’s oldest sitting head of state, confirmed last month he would seek re-election on October 12, marking his eighth bid for office amid growing concerns about his health and long-standing criticisms of his rule.

Over four decades, Biya’s administration has faced persistent allegations of corruption, political repression, and a violent separatist conflict in the country’s English-speaking regions that has disrupted education and displaced thousands.

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.

Kamto previously contested the presidency under the Cameroon Resistance Movement (CRM), but has not yet publicly commented on his latest disqualification.

Cameroon’s main opposition leader, Maurice Kamto, has been excluded from the official list of candidates cleared to run in the country’s presidential election scheduled for October 12.

This development comes despite more than 80 hopefuls submitting their candidacies for the upcoming polls last week. According to media reports, the national electoral body, Elecam, approved only 13 out of the 83 applications, leaving out Kamto, who was the runner-up in the hotly contested 2018 election.

Kamto previously contested the presidency under the Cameroon Resistance Movement (CRM), but has not yet publicly commented on his latest disqualification.

According to the BBC, Kamto’s exclusion stems from an internal dispute within the Manidem party, which he joined after CRM was barred from fielding a candidate this year due to its lack of representation in Parliament and local councils.

Separate nomination

While Manidem’s main leadership backed Kamto’s candidacy, a rival faction submitted a separate nomination under the same party name. Faced with two conflicting applications, Elecam opted to reject both to avoid appearing partisan.

“We call on all Cameroonians to show calm and restraint because, for the moment, it is only an offside goal. This tackle from behind must be sanctioned by the Constitutional Council, which we will turn to,” said Manidem president Anicet Ekane, describing Kamto’s exclusion as “arbitrary and provocative.”

Candidates who were left off the final list have two days to appeal the decision in court.

Meanwhile, incumbent President Paul Biya, 92, has been cleared to run, paving the way for a potential eighth term in office.

Biya, who took over from President Ahmadou Ahidjo following his resignation, has ruled Cameroon since 1982. He is currently Africa’s second-longest-serving head of state after Equatorial Guinea’s Teodoro Obiang.

Observers believe Biya’s main challengers could include two of his former allies, Issa Tchiroma Bakary and Bello Bouba Maigari, both cleared to run and seen as influential figures in Cameroon’s populous northern region.

Other approved candidates include renowned anti-corruption lawyer Akere Muna, Social Democratic Front (SDF) leader Joshua Osih, and Member of Parliament Cabral Libii. Foumban Mayor Patricia Tomaino Ndam Njoya is the only woman on the final list of contenders for the October vote.