Kamto Presses Opposition: Unite or Lose to CPDM

YAOUNDÉ, Cameroon — 17 September 2025-Maurice Kamto has issued a rallying cry to Cameroon’s fragmented opposition, urging the eleven presidential contenders to unite for what he calls a “liberating purpose” against Paul Biya’s CPDM in the upcoming October 12 election.

In a powerful declaration published in Yaoundé on September 17, 2025, Maurice Kamto, leader of the Cameroon Renaissance Movement (CRM), called on opposition candidates to rise above personal ambition and build a united front. Excluded from the presidential race by the Constitutional Council in what he described as “political and judicial barbarism,” Kamto nonetheless remains an influential voice, shaping the debate ahead of one of Cameroon’s most consequential elections.

A Historic Responsibility

Kamto framed the 2025 contest as a decisive moment in Cameroon’s post-independence history:

“We are at a historic moment where political change is possible,” he wrote.

He warned that failure to rally would condemn opposition forces to another humiliating defeat at the hands of the CPDM, a party that has ruled unchallenged for over four decades through a mix of patronage, electoral manipulation, and outright repression.

One Candidate or a Strong Coalition

Kamto outlined two possible scenarios:

1. All eleven opposition contenders rally behind a single, experienced candidate capable of mobilizing mass support.

2. In the absence of consensus, a coalition of heavyweight candidates could emerge, channeling popular hopes into a credible alternative.

In both cases, he stressed, the burden rests squarely on the candidates themselves, not on self-proclaimed “kingmakers.”

“The primary and crucial political responsibility rests on the shoulders of the candidates,” Kamto wrote, “not on any so-called ‘maker of kings.’”

Exclusion Fuels Determination

Kamto’s exclusion from the ballot — decided by the Biya-controlled Constitutional Council in late July and early August — has further exposed the lack of transparency in Cameroon’s electoral system. Yet far from silencing him, the move appears to have emboldened Kamto to take on a unifying role, presenting himself as a statesman above the fray.

The Opposition’s Dilemma

Opposition politics in Cameroon have long been plagued by fragmentation, egos, and rivalries. Candidates frequently accuse each other of being regime stooges or opportunists. Meanwhile, the CPDM exploits this disunity to retain power.

Observers note that while Kamto’s call is timely, history offers little optimism: previous appeals for unity have collapsed in bitterness and suspicion. Yet the growing social and economic crisis, coupled with fatigue over Biya’s endless reign, may create a rare window for cooperation.

Citizens Demand Change

For many Cameroonians, especially the youth, the October election represents more than a political contest — it is about reclaiming a future. The country is mired in economic stagnation, widespread corruption, and the unresolved Anglophone conflict that continues to destabilize the Northwest and Southwest.

Civil society activists argue that if the opposition cannot seize this opportunity, the people will be condemned to another cycle of despair.

CPDM’s Eternal Machine

Meanwhile, the CPDM has wasted no time in mobilizing its state-backed electoral machinery. With unlimited access to public resources, state media, and security forces, the ruling party’s campaign is already omnipresent. Biya’s regime has survived in part because opposition figures remain divided and unwilling to sacrifice personal ambitions for collective good.

Will the Candidates Listen?

Kamto’s appeal is now in the hands of the eleven contenders. If they ignore his call, they risk repeating the same mistakes that have plagued opposition politics for decades. If they respond, Cameroon could witness the birth of a formidable challenge to Biya’s four-decade grip on power.

For now, Cameroonians are left wondering whether history will be seized — or squandered.