Aboubakar Ousmane Mey, the elder brother of Alamine Ousmane Mey, Cameroon’s Minister of Economy, Planning, and Regional Development, has officially announced his candidacy for the 2025 presidential elections. A vocal critic of the current regime, Aboubakar Ousmane Mey hails from the Far North region and has made his intentions clear in a recent public declaration.
In the statement, obtained by MMI, it was revealed that “the president of the Coordination for Change in Cameroon (CCC), Elhadj Aboubakar Ousmane Mey, will be a candidate in the presidential elections scheduled for October 2025 or before.” The document further asserts that “the Coordination for Change in Cameroon will participate in all the next elections and intends to occupy seats in Parliament, the councils, and regions.”
Aboubakar Ousmane Mey comes from a family with deep ties to the current regime. His younger brother serves as a minister under President Paul Biya, and their father, Abba Ousmane Mey, was a former governor of the North region and a close aide to the late President Ahmadou Ahidjo.
Despite his political lineage, Aboubakar Ousmane Mey faces significant challenges in his bid for the presidency. The political party he leads, the Coordination for Change in Cameroon, is relatively unknown and currently has no representation in the National Assembly or municipal councils, which could pose a significant hurdle according to the electoral code.
Political analysts suggest that Aboubakar’s candidacy could further complicate the already fragmented opposition landscape in Cameroon. The opposition has struggled to unite behind a single candidate, a weakness that has historically given the ruling party an advantage in elections. This latest declaration could spell further difficulties for the opposition as they prepare for the 2025 elections.
