The Spirit of Change is Alive in Cameroon — Prof. Maurice Kamto

Maurice Kamto, leader of the Cameroon Renaissance Movement (CRM) party, has taken to social media to thank his supporters and Cameroonians for not giving up on their desire to see “change” in the country.

This was Kamto’s first public message to his supporters after being freed from a two-day house arrest that began on the evening of Saturday, June 7, in Douala.

In a public statement issued from Yaounde on Tuesday, June 10, Kamto confirmed he had not planned a rally or public event in Douala, but intended to hold “a simple meeting with party officials at the headquarters in Deido”.

Nevertheless, the authorities heavily deployed armed security forces throughout the city, effectively barring the gathering and placing Kamto under house arrest for several hours.

The Douala headquarters of his party was heavily militarized, preventing the meeting and confining Kamto to a private residence before he later returned to Yaoundé on Monday evening under security escort.

Despite this, thousands of CRM supporters turned out to welcome him. Images circulated widely on social media and local news outlets showed large crowds, which Kamto described as “an exceptional welcome” and “a memorable show of support” from what he called the “People of Change.”

“You demonstrated courage, determination, discipline, and respect toward the numerous security forces deployed. This honors you and shows that, despite the nervousness of some of our compatriots, a peaceful presidential election is still possible in 2025—if each institution involved plays its role impartially, as required by law,” Kamto said, praising what he called the courage of Cameroonians.

The opposition leader also acknowledged the general restraint shown by security officials, despite what he referred to as “their instrumentalization by the regime.”

“I salute the overall attitude of the law enforcement authorities who, despite being used by those in power, avoided incidents that could have had unimaginable consequences.”

Alleged Abuse of Supporters

However, Kamto raised serious concerns about alleged abuses by security forces during and after the incident.

He cited reports that several young motorcycle taxi drivers had their bikes confiscated under suspicion of attempting to escort him through the city.

“These motorcycles represent their livelihoods,” Kamto stated, adding that some drivers were asked to pay large sums of money to retrieve them.

He called on police and gendarmerie authorities to “give serious attention to these pleas for help.”

Kamto reiterated his belief that the upcoming election could become a flashpoint, warning that the government might again use the security apparatus to intimidate the population.

He urged law enforcement officers to remain loyal not to political pressure but to the Constitution and the Cameroonian people.

“Despite political pressures, I hope they will serve the Republic, the laws, and ultimately the Cameroonian people,” he said.

A Call for Voter Registration

The CRM leader concluded by encouraging all eligible Cameroonians, both domestic and abroad, to register and collect their voter cards, as the registration deadline approaches with the expected convening of the electoral body.

“Together, through the ballot box and in peace, we will soon achieve change through democratic alternation,” Kamto said.

Kamto had recently returned from a highly publicized rally in Paris on May 31, where he addressed thousands of supporters from the Cameroonian diaspora.

His brief stop in Douala was his first on home soil following that trip. He has since returned to the capital, Yaoundé.

Kamto’s presidential bid in 2025 is widely viewed as a key challenge to the ruling party, the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM), which has held power for over four decades.