Efforts to unite Cameroon’s opposition ahead of the October 12, 2025 presidential election have hit another stumbling block after a three-day Foumban Group conclave in Yaoundé ended without agreement on a single consensual coalition candidate.
The much-anticipated meeting, which brought together key political stakeholders, aimed to produce one opposition contender capable of mounting a serious challenge against President Paul Biya, 92, in the upcoming polls. Despite multiple sessions of negotiations, delegates failed to rally behind a single figure, prompting renewed calls for a decisive follow-up gathering in Buea.
Resolutions Adopted in Yaoundé
Although no candidate was chosen, participants agreed on two major steps to move the coalition effort forward:
- Establishment of a Technical Committee to Consolidate a Common Program
This committee will harmonize the political, social, and economic visions of participating candidates to create a shared platform that inspires hope and delivers meaningful change for Cameroon’s citizens. - Creation of a Working Group for Managing Polling Station Representatives
The working group will coordinate the deployment of coalition representatives across polling stations nationwide and abroad, ensuring transparency and security in the electoral process.
Barrister Agbor Balla, human rights lawyer and founder of the Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa (CHRDA), stressed the urgency of the situation:
“Time is of the essence and every day counts,” he said, warning that the absence of a unified candidate could weaken the opposition’s chances. “Momentum from Foumban and Yaoundé must now translate into action — and action means selecting one candidate capable of leading the sovereign people to victory in October.”
Why Buea is Seen as the Decider
With previous meetings in Foumban and Yaoundé producing no breakthrough, Buea is now being positioned as the venue for the final push toward consensus. Organizers hope it will conclude the coalition process and present Cameroonians with a single candidate in time for the election campaign.
Background
Talks among some Cameroonian opposition leaders on choosing a consensual candidate had already reached day three before the Yaoundé meeting concluded. The goal has consistently been to rally behind one figure to challenge the incumbent president.
The third round of earlier talks began on a Friday and continued into Saturday, with sources at the meeting telling MMI a candidate might be announced by Sunday, August 10.
Participants included Issa Tchiroma Bakary (FNSC), Akere Muna (Univers), Patricia Ndam Njoya (UDC), Serge Espoir Matomba (PURS), Ateki Seta Caxton (PAL), and Prince Ekosso (USDP). Of these, five political parties were approved by Cameroon’s electoral body, ELECAM, to contest the election.
However, some politicians who attended earlier sessions were missing from later rounds. Maurice Kamto, barred from the election, participated in the first meeting but not the second or third after the Constitutional Council upheld ELECAM’s decision against his candidacy. Hilaire Zipang, whose approval was similarly reversed, also disappeared from subsequent rounds.
Key Parties Absent from Talks
Out of 11 validated opposition candidates, several have remained absent from coalition discussions. Joshua Osih (SDF), Bello Bouba Maigari (NUDP), and Cabral Libii (PNR) have not attended any of the sessions so far.
In the third round, Hiram Samuel Iyodi, the youngest candidate, was initially represented by Denis Emilien Atangana but later withdrew. Jacques Bougha Hagbe has also not been mentioned in recent meetings.
On the second day of talks, Issa Tchiroma Bakary left but promised to “abide by any decision taken.” Sources say coalition leaders still plan to engage absent parties once a consensual candidate is chosen and may also involve civil society groups.
Despite the SDF saying it is “open to the coalition,” it has not attended. Party deputy secretary for political education and training, Ndifor Richard, told MMI that Joshua Osih preferred to wait until the Constitutional Council’s rulings were complete before engaging in coalition discussions.
With time running out before the October vote, the Buea meeting is now viewed as the last realistic opportunity for Cameroon’s opposition to unite under one banner and mount a credible challenge to President Biya’s decades-long rule.
