MANIDEM Rivalry Explodes in Court as Kamto’s Fate Hangs in the Balance

A forgotten MINAT letter resurfaces

Shortly after the morning recess, Yebga’s lawyers placed on the bench a 23 February 2016 ministerial letter that names him “Président National du MANIDEM” and lists a 14-member political bureau. The document, stamped by the Ministry of Territorial Administration, is now Yebga’s chief exhibit. His counsel argues that Ekane was excluded in 2017, making any later expulsions—including Yebga’s own ouster in 2018—“juridically void.”

“My client was never lawfully removed, therefore all actions taken by Mr Ekane since 2017 are a legal mirage,” the lead advocate declared.

Counter-charge: an empty chair at the top

Ekane’s camp fired back by reading out the same 2016 bureau list: eight names are either deceased, have resigned, or openly support Ekane.

“Yebga presides over a phantom bureau,” said one defence lawyer. “You cannot be captain of a ship crewed by ghosts.”

Counsel also pointed to government subventions paid to Ekane as MANIDEM leader since 2018, warning the Council that accepting Yebga’s claim would “force the state to explain why it spent seven years funding the wrong person.”

Kamto in cross-fire

The high-stakes quarrel matters because both factions had endorsed Maurice Kamto as joint candidate. Yebga now insists Kamto is not a MANIDEM member and wants every related filing declared inadmissible—even his own nomination papers.

“I do not seek the presidency today,” Yebga told the court. “I seek justice and the restoration of my party’s honour.”

Kamto’s counsel dismissed the manoeuvre as “a spoiler tactic orchestrated elsewhere,” reminding judges that ELECAM accepted Kamto’s dossier as complete before the inter-party feud reignited.

The rapporteur holds firm

Despite the fireworks, rapporteur Justice Aaron Mbeleck reiterated yesterday’s recommendation: reject both Kamto and Yebga for “irregular endorsements.” Deliberations were postponed to Wednesday to allow judges to verify the authenticity of the 2016 letter and the party’s subsequent subsidy records.

Tension beyond the courtroom

• Riot police again used tear gas outside the Congress Palace after supporters hurled plastic chairs at a gendarmerie barrier.

• Journalist Brand Kamga, arrested Monday while livestreaming, was transferred overnight to the Yaoundé Central Station; press-union lawyers were denied access.

• Roadblocks extended to Edea and Bafia, with security teams checking phones for political content; travellers reported on-the-spot cash “fines” before release.

A nephew of Anicet Ekane recounted being stopped at Misselele checkpoint, questioned about family ties and held until he erased “anything political” from his handset.

What happens next

1. Document audit — The Council will compare Yebga’s 2016 letter with subsidy receipts and party-congress minutes from 2017-2025.

2. Ruling window — Judges vow to announce decisions on both Kamto and Yebga “no later than Thursday evening,” mindful of the 11 August legal cut-off.

3. Security posture — Additional gendarmes from the Centre and South Regions are on standby; civil-society groups plan a silent march if Kamto is barred.

As the legal clock ticks, the question is no longer only who leads MANIDEM, but whether Cameroon’s electoral process can withstand a party whose presidency is fought over more fiercely than the nation’s top job itself. Cameroon Concord will continue to report from inside the courtroom and on the streets as the decisive rulings draw near.