The leader of the Cameroon Renaissance Movement (CRM), Prof. Maurice Kamto, has condemned what he describes as an “illegal siege” on the home of Honourable Jean Michel Nintcheu. Nintcheu, a former SDF MP, is now president of the Front for Change in Cameroon (FCC) and interim national coordinator of the Political Alliance for Change (APC). The APC has endorsed Kamto’s bid for the presidency in 2025.
Kamto reported that anti-terror police units surrounded Nintcheu’s residence in Douala early Saturday, where he had planned to hold a meeting with FCC executive members. He characterized this action as a politically motivated assault that reflects a systematic pattern of intimidation and civil rights abuses against opposition figures in Cameroon.
Unacceptable Aggression
“This is unacceptable,” Kamto stated in a press release. “This scenario recalls the countless acts of aggression, torture, and repeated violations of civil and political rights inflicted upon CRM and its members, particularly since the electoral hold-up by ELECAM and the Constitutional Council favouring the CPDM’s candidate in the 2018 presidential election.”
Kamto argued that the police response to Nintcheu’s gathering, intended for a limited group within the FCC, solely stemmed from his “bold, republican political choices.” He warned that security forces’ actions reveal a deeper plan by the ruling regime to suppress the rising public demand for change.
Call to Action for Cameroonian Democrats
Kamto however, urged Cameroonian democrats across the political spectrum to denounce what he called “another instance of state-sponsored barbarism”. He says this is aimed at stifling political freedoms on the eve of a crucial presidential election. He accused the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM) of an “historic complicity” in these rights violations, emphasizing that despite electoral manipulation and police intimidation, the people remain “standing firm” in their commitment to democratic liberation.
Solidarity with the FCC
Expressing solidarity with the FCC and its leader, Kamto called on the government to immediately lift the siege on Nintcheu’s residence, allowing him and his party to carry out their activities legally. He reminded authorities that Cameroonians have chosen the path of electoral democracy and asserted that no measures—be it economic hardship, rising living costs, deteriorating infrastructure, or administrative harassment—will deter their resolve for democratic change.
Kamto further urged the regime to abandon its “desperate attempts to cling to power” and instead focus on the broader interests of the nation. He cautioned that any escalation would only exacerbate the nation’s political tensions at a time when Cameroonians yearn for stability and progress.
