Chiefs from the Lekie Division in the Centre Region of Cameroon have presided over a ‘funeral’ ceremony for Maurice Kamto, the President of the Cameroon Renaissance Movement (CRM) party. This has shocked many Cameroonians, given that Prof. Kamto is alive and preparing for his party’s convention in a few weeks. Most crucially, people have been wondering why the same chiefs have not held an actual funeral for Martinez Zogo, one of their sons, who was brutally murdered.
The recent ceremony, which included traditional rites performed by nine chiefs dressed in Lekie traditional regalia, featured a red casket flanked by a picture of Kamto.
The motives behind this unusual funeral are shrouded in mystery, but speculations abound.
Observers suggest that the Chiefs might be conveying an indirect political message to Kamto, particularly in relation to the upcoming 2025 elections.
The symbolic act of staging Kamto’s funeral could be interpreted as a metaphorical death knell for his political campaign in the Lekie Division.
As the leader of the CRM, Kamto is a prominent figure in the Cameroonian political landscape and stands as the largest opposition force against President Paul Biya’s Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM).
The alignment of the Lekie Chiefs with the CPDM adds is not surprising to many who understand the nature of Cameroon politics. However, going on the offensive against a political party leader is something many are yet to understand.
Interestingly, Maurice Kamto has not yet publicly reacted to this staged portrayal of his death.
The CRM, which claims to have won the last presidential elections which was then ‘stolen’ by the Biya government, now faces a peculiar challenge as its leader is symbolically mourned in a region known for its loyalty to the CPDM.
The Lekie traditional rulers have faced criticism previously for their perceived inaction in seeking justice for one of their own, the late journalist Martinez Zogo.
Zogo, who hailed from Lekie Division, was brutally murdered in January, allegedly by regime loyalists.
Despite an initial condemnation of the act and traditional rites performed at the scene where Zogo’s body was found, the Chiefs later abandoned their pursuit of justice for the slain journalist. They had also promised Zogo will be buried in Biya’s village.
Instead, they trumped up support for President Biya and backtracked on stern words of condemnation against the act.
The Lekie Division, a stronghold of the ruling CPDM party, has been under the political influence of President Paul Biya for four decades.
Analysts are now suggesting that the Chiefs’ funeral stunt could be a calculated move, potentially sponsored by the regime, to undermine Kamto and weaken support for the CRM ahead of the crucial 2025 elections.
Recent reports indicate that state administrators loyal to the CPDM have been actively impeding CRM rallies across the country.
As Kamto seeks to expand his political influence, these obstacles are seen as part of a broader strategy to hinder the opposition’s momentum in the run-up to the 2025 election.
