Cameroon’s elections body, ELECAM, has disqualified leading opposition figure Maurice Kamto from contesting the upcoming presidential election scheduled for October 12.
Kamto, a former minister and university professor, was seen as the strongest challenger to President Paul Biya, who has ruled the Central African nation for nearly 43 years.
He secured second place in the 2018 election, earning 14% of the vote, in a race marred by allegations of widespread electoral fraud.
ELECAM said Kamto’s disqualification stems from his acceptance of a nomination from the Cameroon Renaissance Movement (CRM), which boycotted the country’s legislative and municipal elections in 2020. Under Section 121 of Cameroon’s electoral code, parties that boycott such elections are no longer eligible to field presidential candidates.
The decision has sparked concern about potential unrest and further shrinks the pool of contenders—only 12 candidates remain from over 80 initial applicants—clearing the path for Biya, 92, who recently confirmed he will run for an eighth consecutive seven-year term.
