The 2025 presidential race in Cameroon is intensifying due to explosive accusations from opposition leader Maurice Kamto. Kamto warns that the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM) is preparing for both an electoral coup and a military takeover to avert defeat at the polls this October.
Kamto, president of the Cameroon Renaissance Movement (CRM), released a fiery public statement on June 16, claiming the CPDM is “afraid of losing power” and is orchestrating moves to undermine the democratic process.
“It is now clear that the CPDM cannot win a transparent and free election,” Kamto said.
According to Kamto, the CPDM finds itself in a legal and political deadlock.
He argues that, due to the party’s failure to hold an ordinary congress since September 2016, the terms of all governing bodies of the party, including that of President Paul Biya as party chairman, have expired.
This, Kamto claims, disqualifies Biya—or anyone else put forward by the CPDM—from legally standing in the 2025 race, based on the party’s own statutes.
Fears of an Electoral Coup
Central to Kamto’s concerns is ELECAM’s refusal to publish the national electoral roll, a legal requirement under Article 80 of Cameroon’s Electoral Code.
He describes this act as the “best illustration” of an electoral coup in the making, warning that some regime hardliners are plotting to delay the October election—a move he says would constitute “an attack on the Cameroonian people.”
“Any such manoeuvre would automatically trigger their legitimate defence,” he cautioned.
Military Coup Not Ruled Out
Kamto also raised the alarm over the possibility of a military coup if the CPDM loses the election. He referenced televised comments and social media posts made by CPDM representatives in 2023, openly suggesting that the army would reject a CRM-led government.
Despite a formal complaint filed by the CRM in September last year against these comments, the legal process has stalled, a delay Kamto believes is due to political interference and protection of those who made the comments.
Kamto expressed concern over an agreement signed between ELECAM and the United Nations on May 9, which he says risks legitimizing a flawed election process.
Adding fuel to the fire, he cited the arrival of a French gendarmerie general in Yaoundé on June 8, who met with top defence and security officials.
The visit, Kamto noted, comes at a suspicious time as the presidential election window officially opened on June 15.
“France and the UN will bear responsibility if the worst comes to pass,” Kamto warned.
He criticised the CPDM for what he described as hypocritical calls for peace while the party’s own members have previously burned CRM materials and publicly threatened violence.
Commitment to Peace
Despite the rising tensions, Kamto emphasised his commitment to national unity and peaceful democratic change. He called for the protection of President Biya and his family, saying history demands that leaders focus on healing the nation rather than revenge.
“Rebuilding the unity of our country is one of my primary missions,” Kamto affirmed.
Under Cameroonian law, the president must convene the electorate between June 15 and July 17.
Kamto warns that any delay or unconstitutional action could plunge the country into crisis.
The CPDM is yet to officially respond to Kamto’s latest statement. However, past comments from party officials have denied any plans to sabotage the electoral process.
