Cameroon Elections: Maurice Kamto Calls for Calm, Truth, and Restraint

Kamto’s message — delivered in deliberate, judicial language characteristic of the law professor and former minister — acknowledges the country’s worsening tension since polling day, warning that Cameroon “cannot afford a new cycle of national tragedy.”

“Respect the Verdict of the Ballot Box”

In his written statement, Kamto congratulated citizens for “massively exercising their civic duty” but noted that the atmosphere has deteriorated due to “reprehensible acts and behaviors by certain individuals” capable of compromising the credibility of the election.

He urged the electoral authorities to ensure that the official results correspond exactly to the choice freely expressed by voters.

“It is imperative that the official results reflect the conscience of the nation as expressed in the ballot boxes. In other words, the verdict of the ballot box must be respected,” Kamto wrote.

His message comes amid widespread protests and unrest in cities such as Douala, Dschang, and Garoua, where citizens have accused ELECAM and the CPDM machinery of falsifying procès-verbaux to favor incumbent Paul Biya against opposition front-runner Issa Tchiroma Bakary.

A Plea for Restraint and Responsibility

Kamto directly addressed Cameroon’s security forces, urging them to act with “discernment and restraint” and to avoid treating peaceful protesters as criminals.

“Those who threaten public order are those who attempt to alter the word of the ballot box — not those who defend it,” he emphasized.

The former 2018 presidential candidate’s intervention resonates with the mounting frustration of a population weary of manipulation and economic decline. By appealing to the moral conscience of law-enforcement officials, Kamto positions himself as a stabilizing voice while indirectly validating public anger over alleged electoral fraud.

Historical Memory and Moral Warning

Kamto’s declaration carries historical undertones: an implicit reminder of Cameroon’s repeated electoral crises — 1992, 2018, and now 2025 — each marked by contested results and authoritarian consolidation.

“Our country cannot continue to destroy, every seven years, its chances of shared progress and development,” he lamented, calling on leaders to place national unity above personal ambition.

Political analysts view this as both a moral warning and a strategic move. While Issa Tchiroma claims victory and the regime doubles down on control, Kamto’s statement attempts to channel civic frustration into lawful resistance rather than violent confrontation.

The Broader Political Landscape

The statement arrives at a delicate moment:

• Protests have erupted across multiple cities.

• Civil society organizations have recognized Tchiroma’s victory.

• Whistleblowers continue to expose falsified PVs implicating high-ranking officials.

Against this backdrop, Kamto’s call for restraint underscores the opposition’s awareness that violence would play into the regime’s narrative of chaos.
Observers also note that Kamto’s tone — firm yet conciliatory — could help unify opposition forces that were fragmented before the vote.

A Nation at a Crossroads

Five days after the election, ELECAM has yet to declare official results, deepening public mistrust. Kamto’s declaration echoes a growing chorus — from churches to civic organizations — demanding transparency and a peaceful transfer of power.

The statement concludes with an appeal to collective patriotism:

“Cameroon is our common nation; it will survive us all. We have no right to bury it deeper in the underworld of history.”

With these words, Kamto may have re-entered the political stage not as a candidate, but as a moral compass — reminding both victors and vanquished that the legitimacy of power lies only in truth.