Cameroon’s Constitutional Council has officially disqualified prominent opposition leader Maurice Kamto from contesting in the upcoming October presidential election, rejecting his appeal as “lacking legal justification.”
The ruling, delivered Tuesday, upholds an earlier decision by the Electoral Council and ends Kamto’s campaign under the Manidem party, marking a major setback for opposition hopes of challenging President Paul Biya’s decades-long rule.
Kamto’s legal team slammed the verdict as politically motivated.
“The Council operated 97% politically and only 3% legally,” said lawyer Hippolyte Meli, accusing the court of legitimizing electoral fraud.
With no legal avenues left, Kamto’s lawyers urged the opposition to turn to political action.
His disqualification stems from a series of missteps, including the withdrawal of his former party, the MRC, from elections in 2020, and a failed attempt to switch to Manidem, which mistakenly nominated two candidates—a breach of electoral rules.
Political analyst Aristide Mono called the ruling “a political use of institutions,” arguing it reflects a growing trend of using legal systems to eliminate opposition candidates.
The verdict has heightened political tensions across Cameroon, with the government warning against unrest. Meanwhile, opposition parties are pushing for a united coalition, though Kamto’s removal significantly weakens their prospects.
President Paul Biya, 90, who has ruled since 1982, is expected to seek reelection, with critics now calling the electoral process rigged and exclusionary.
