Bafoussam Mayor Leaves SDF, Eyes CPDM: What’s Next?

In a video that has been widely shared online in recent hours, Cyrille Ngnang, mayor of the Bafoussam I commune in the West Region, officially announced his departure from the Social Democratic Front (SDF).

"The divorce with the SDF is pronounced and final," he declared, emphasizing that his decision was not impulsive. “This is an opportunity for me to inform the public and the people of Bafoussam I that I believe in what I am doing,” Ngnang added, reinforcing his commitment to his political path.

Though his reasons for leaving the SDF were not fully detailed, Ngnang hinted at internal conflicts that had worn down his patience. "Fought, despised, expelled, and even pursued from the house, I have no choice but to seek refuge in another political family," he explained. When contacted by SBBC for further clarification, the mayor declined to elaborate, insisting that "what is said in the video is sufficient." However, he indicated that more statements on the matter are forthcoming, stating, "No one forces me to speak; I control my own communications."

A journalist based in Bafoussam, who closely monitors the SDF, commented that Ngnang's departure was foreseeable. Ngnang was among the 27 party executives who gathered in Mbouda in June 2022 to demand the resignation of John Fru Ndi, the party’s then-powerful leader. These executives accused Fru Ndi of abandoning the core values of resistance that once made the SDF popular. Most of these dissenters were later expelled from the party, but Ngnang survived the purge—though, as the source noted, his position within the party became increasingly untenable.

Ngnang has promised to reveal the name of the political party he plans to join before the end of November. Rumors in Bafoussam suggest that he may be preparing to align with the Rassemblement Démocratique du Peuple Camerounais (CPDM), the ruling party. "He actively participated in organizing the screening of the documentary film Paul Biya, Homme d’Exception, which was promoted by RDPC officials," the source disclosed.

In his video, Ngnang left the door open to various possibilities, hinting that he may either join the ruling party or align with another opposition group, or even explore a new political direction altogether.

Analysis:

Cyrille Ngnang’s departure from the SDF highlights ongoing fractures within the party, especially following the leadership of John Fru Ndi. The rifts within the party over its direction have led to a loss of prominent members, particularly those who were dissatisfied with Fru Ndi's perceived departure from the party's foundational ideals. Ngnang’s rumored alignment with the RDPC, should it materialize, would reflect a broader trend of political pragmatism seen in Cameroon, where opposition figures often realign with the ruling party as a strategic move to maintain influence.