2025 presidentials: kamto secures funding account after threatening telecom company

The telecommunications company Orange Cameroon has finally created an Orange Money account for the fundraising campaign of the opposition political party, the Cameroon Renaissance Movement (CRM), after threats of a boycott by its militants.

The embattled opposition leader of the CRM, Prof. Maurice Kamto, revealed in a press release last week that Orange Money had deliberately obstructed his attempt to open a mobile money account for his electoral fundraising. Though neither Kamto nor Orange Cameroon has issued an official statement on the matter, images circulating on social media 24 hours after the alleged refusal show CRM militants holding a frame displaying the company’s logo and the party’s deposit number.

According to Maurice Kamto, Orange Money initially denied the party’s request to create a fundraising account for the upcoming presidential election. The CRM first applied for the account in December 2024 at the Orange branch in Mendong, Yaoundé. Two weeks later, the application was rejected without explanation. Following this, a second application was submitted on January 14, 2025, at the Bastos branch.

Despite providing all the required documents, the CRM was asked the next day to resend digital copies, as the ones previously scanned by Orange Money were reportedly “a bit blurry.” Additionally, the party was informed that its National President needed to complete and sign an additional form. The CRM complied with these requests. Subsequent follow-ups by CRM members on January 24, 27, 28, and 30, as well as February 5, did not yield a clear response from Orange Money.

The company repeatedly urged the CRM to “wait until next week” or “remain patient.” On February 6, Orange Money officially rejected the application, citing an unclear identity card and the absence of a “duly completed and signed customer contact form.” CRM representatives argued that the required form had never been requested previously. Despite these setbacks, the CRM resubmitted the scanned National Identity Card of its National President and the newly requested form.

On February 27, 2025, the party escalated the matter by writing directly to the Director General of Orange Money, seeking clarification on why their application had been denied. This correspondence remained unanswered. On March 6, 2025, the CRM received a second rejection, this time on the grounds of the “absence of the PV of the December 2023 convention electing Mr. Maurice Kamto as National President of the CRM.” The party contended that this document had not been required in its initial application or mentioned in the first rejection of February 6.

The minutes of the December 2023 election were subsequently sent to Orange Money on March 11, 2025, but since then, the CRM has received no further communication regarding its application, despite repeated inquiries. Kamto’s statement emphasized that the CRM had made exhaustive efforts to comply with Orange Money’s requirements but had been met with persistent roadblocks. The party believes this is part of a broader effort to hinder its electoral campaign.

The press release also accused Orange Money of aligning with the Cameroonian government in denying essential financial services to opposition parties. CRM militants and supporters had repeatedly requested Orange Money account details to contribute to the campaign. The refusal to grant an account was made public as the party claimed it faced “violent adversity” from the ruling government. According to unofficial reports, Orange Money granted Kamto’s request within 24 hours of the public complaint.

The CRM’s accusations add to growing concerns about the impartiality of financial institutions in Cameroon’s political landscape. With the 2025 presidential elections approaching, the issue of access to financial services for political parties is likely to remain a contentious subject.