Cameroon’s prominent opposition leader, Maurice Kamto, has announced his resignation from the African Movement for New Independence and Democracy (MANIDEM) on September 12, stating that this will pave the way for his return to the leadership of the Cameroon Renaissance Movement (CRM).
The move follows the controversial rejection of his candidacy for the October 12, 2025, presidential election under MANIDEM’s banner, which Kamto described as marred by “unprecedented administrative barbarity and judicial arbitrariness.”
In a statement released Friday, September 12, Kamto explained that his initial resignation as the CRM’s national president was a strategic necessity to contest the presidential election under MANIDEM, as authorized by the CRM National Council on October 26, 2024.
However, the Constitutional Council’s decision on August 5, 2025, to bar his candidacy—citing MANIDEM’s investment of multiple candidates—rendered that mandate obsolete.
The CRM National Council, in a meeting on September 6, 2025, passed a resolution urging Kamto to resume his role as National President, prompting his immediate resignation from MANIDEM.
“In order to comply with this request, I first had to resign from MANIDEM. I did so today, 12 September, by sending a letter of resignation to MANIDEM, with immediate effect,” said Kamto.
He expressed gratitude to MANIDEM’s leadership, particularly praising President Georges Anicet Ekane for his “patriotic sense” and the warm support from MANIDEM’s executives and members during his brief tenure.
Kamto’s return to the CRM signals a strategic regrouping for the opposition party, which has faced significant challenges, including government restrictions and internal fragmentation, since its founding in 2012.
The rejection of Kamto’s candidacy, which opposition leaders criticized as politically motivated, has fueled debates about electoral fairness in Cameroon prior to the 2025 presidential election.
Kamto pointed to the “shameful decision” of the Constitutional Council as a pivotal factor in his political trajectory.
As he resumes leadership of the CRM, observers anticipate whether he will back another opposition candidate for the October 12 election.
Kamto’s return to the CRM is likely to rally his supporters, who view him as a key figure in challenging the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM) party.
