In Cameroon’s political arena, where the stakes are as high as they are complex, a cunning manoeuvre appears to be unfolding: that of Serge Espoir Matomba, who, under the guise of advocating for supposed neutrality, seeks to undermine the hope of an entire nation by fostering a fake opposition and quietly supporting the very system he claims to oppose.
The situation during the latest presidential election gives us a clearer view of this reality: Serge Espoir Matomba, by orchestrating a last-minute ballot change, seems intent on sowing chaos to confuse the electorate and dilute the votes concentrated on Joshua Osih and the SDF, a political force of change in Cameroon.
The Illusion of Independence: When Matomba Pretends to Oppose
First, it is essential to understand the argument Serge Espoir Matomba puts forward in his barely veiled attacks against the SDF and Joshua Osih. According to him, “our opponent is candidate Paul Biya and the CPDM,” and no other opposition party deserves this title. The ambiguity and hypocrisy of this statement need to be highlighted. How can one claim to oppose a regime while simultaneously creating maneuvers that fragment the opposition? In other words, how can one denounce Paul Biya’s regime and participate in electoral confusion through questionable actions like changing the ballot at the last minute—a tactic that only indirectly favors the regime’s candidate? Far from denouncing the system, Serge Espoir Matomba, through his actions, appears to reinforce it.
Matomba’s true problem is that he seeks to destroy the popular momentum, the hope for mobilization that centers around Joshua Osih and the SDF. This is not just a political game; it is a matter of survival for a system that, for 43 years, has suffocated democracy and stifled the aspirations of the Cameroonian people. By acting in this way, Matomba reveals a tacit complicity with the ruling power. He is not an opponent to the regime, but an agent of maintaining the status quo.
The SDF: An Integral Part of the Democratic Struggle
Matomba, in stating that “the SDF’s adversary is not the government, but us,” engages in a dangerous misrepresentation of the truth. For more than 35 years, the SDF has been the voice of the opposition in this country, fighting for democratization, for the establishment of true public freedoms, and for a political system where the people’s voice is heard. The SDF has paid a heavy price: its militants have been persecuted, its leaders imprisoned, but the party has always held firm, loyal to its vision of freedom and justice. It is the SDF’s efforts that have made essential democratic advances possible: political openness, media plurality, recognition of the opposition, and the establishment of a new Constitution in 1996, even though this document has yet to restore a true balance of power.
The SDF is not just a political party. It is a movement that embodies resistance, commitment, and the fight for the betterment of Cameroonian lives. Joshua Osih, its candidate, is no newcomer to the political scene. His program, born of encounters with the people across the country, is the result of a desire to reform and build a fairer Cameroon. The inclusivity and federalism he proposes echo a national reality: the urgent need to rethink the relationship between central power and the regions, to give communities the means to manage their local affairs, and to restore confidence in a democratic system that the current regime has broken.
The Coalition: A Credible Alternative to the Biya Regime
What particularly bothers Matomba is this large coalition that the SDF has managed to build, a coalition that transcends the boundaries of traditional opposition parties to include civil society actors, popular movements, and engaged citizens.
Joining this coalition is a beacon of hope for the average Cameroonian, who sees it as a chance to overthrow the established order.
However, this very coalition, which poses a real challenge to the ruling power, is precisely what Matomba seeks to undermine by creating distractions that divide rather than unite.
By attacking the credibility of this mobilization, he contributes to division for the sole purpose of maintaining the system’s interests.
The Real Question: Who Is Truly the Ally of the Regime?
At the core, the question we can legitimately ask is: who, between Serge Espoir Matomba and the SDF, truly supports the regime?
The SDF and Joshua Osih carry an alternative vision, one that offers Cameroonians a future based on democracy, freedom, and federalism.
Serge Espoir Matomba, through his actions, gives the impression of wanting to maintain the status quo, of continuing to play a supporting role in a scenario where true opponents are marginalized.
His attitude recalls that of “false opponents” who, under the guise of contestation, have no other aim than to preserve a system that benefits them.
The real fight for Cameroon lies in unity around the ideas and values carried by leaders like Joshua Osih, who, through his “Save Cameroon” program, embodies the hope of millions of Cameroonians. Opposition is not merely a series of electoral calculations or strategic alliances. It is about promoting a vision of society where fundamental rights are respected, where democracy is not a slogan but a daily reality, and where every citizen can hope for a better future. Matomba has chosen his camp, but he would be wise to stop pretending to be an opponent while, in reality, he is a silent ally of the regime. Cameroon does not need this hypocrisy; it needs real change.
Takam Blaise
Secrétaire Régional, SDF Littoral
