2025 Presidential Election: Maurice Kamto and Bello Bouba Join the Race as ELECAM Receives New Candidacy Declarations

Yaoundé, July 18, 2025 – The race to Etoudi has officially widened. This Friday morning, Cameroon’s Elections Management Body (ELECAM) confirmed receipt of two new candidacy declarations for the upcoming October 12 presidential election.

According to ELECAM’s headquarters in Yaoundé, the United National Democratic Party (UNDP) filed the candidacy of its long-time leader, Bello Bouba Maïgari, at 8:54am, followed shortly at 9:21am by the filing of Maurice Kamto, submitted on behalf of the MANIDEM (African Movement for New Independence and Democracy) party.

Maurice Kamto, who made a personal appearance at ELECAM’s offices, was greeted by a crowd of supporters who cheered and applauded as he handed in his file after verification. His candidacy is being carried by the Alliance Politique pour le Changement, a coalition of political parties and civil society organisations, officially under the banner of MANIDEM, led by Anicet Ekane.

Kamto becomes the 12th officially declared candidate for the 2025 presidential election, joining an already crowded field which includes:

• Bello Bouba (UNDP)

• Paul Biya (RDPC)

• Cabral Libii (PCRN)

• Joshua Osih (SDF)

• Jacques Bouhga Hagbe (MCNC)

• Ruben Djaouro (PNPC)

• Jean Gwet (MPCC)

• Geneviève Zeh Amvene (Independent)

• Bertin Kisob (CPSJ)

• Akere Muna (Univers)

• Ruben Djaouro (PNPC – filed under a separate declaration)

The deadline for submitting candidacy files remains Monday, July 21 at midnight, according to ELECAM.

Political Tensions Escalate

Kamto’s decision to run under MANIDEM, rather than his own Movement for the Renaissance of Cameroon (MRC), has already sparked fierce reactions within the political establishment. Minister of Labour and Social Security, Grégoire Owona, took to social media with a blistering attack on the alliance between Kamto and Ekane, calling it an “association contre nature” based on nothing more than “violence and money.”

In his message, Owona mocked the MRC for earlier insisting it was qualified to field a candidate, only to now rely on MANIDEM’s platform:

“KAMTO-EKANE: their only point of convergence is Violence-Money! Total ideological divergence! Alliance against nature! Association of… When we, the ‘illiterate jurists’ said the MRC was not qualified to present a candidate, they claimed the Pope of law knew better. Where are we today? And it’s not over! Wait and see.”

As the deadline nears, more declarations may yet come in, but the political climate is already heating up as candidates jockey for position and alliances continue to reshape the electoral battlefield.

The October 12 poll is expected to be one of the most fiercely contested elections in Cameroon’s history, with long-time incumbent Paul Biya seeking yet another term amid growing internal dissent and calls for generational change.

Cameroon Concord Desk, Yaoundé