The leader of the opposition political party, the Cameroon Renaissance Movement, CRM has expressed serious concerns that the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement, CPDM, is preparing either an electoral coup or even a military takeover to maintain power after the forthcoming October.
The president of opposition political party, the Cameroon Renaissance Movement, CRM, Maurice Kamto has raised serious concerns about what he describes as “the temptation of the worst” by the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement, CPDM, alleging that elements within the regime are actively preparing either an electoral coup or a military takeover to retain power in the upcoming October presidential election. In a statement issued recently, Kamto painted a picture of a regime gripped by fear and political paralysis.
He accused the CPDM of being unable to present a credible candidate, including the current President of the Republic, due to the expiration of internal mandates following the party’s failure to convene an ordinary congress since September 2016. Citing the party’s own statutes, Kamto contends that this legal vacuum could invalidate any CPDM candidacy, a claim that remains unconfirmed by independent legal interpretation. According to Kamto, the regime’s refusal, through ELECAM, the Constitutional Council, and the judiciary, to publish the national electoral roll, as required under Article 80 of the Electoral Code, is part of what he describes as a broader strategy to obstruct a free and fair election.
He claims that the electoral body’s director is actively discouraging voter registration, further undermining the process. But Kamto’s most alarming allegation centers on what he describes as growing signs of a potential military coup. Referencing statements made in 2023 by CPDM officials on national television and social media, Kamto noted that public threats were made against him and his party in the event of a CRM victory at the ballot box. While complaints were filed in court, Kamto stated that the case has been stalled without explanation, raising suspicions of political interference and immunity. Kamto also pointed to the CRM’s Paris rally on May 31 as a turning point, claiming it rattled regime officials to the point of panic.
He cited the uncharacteristic online outbursts by certain ministers as evidence of rising anxiety among government ranks. In the same breath, he criticized attempts to portray his calls for peaceful democratic change as incitement, insisting that his statements were a simple appeal to national determination, citing the recent example of Senegal’s democratic transition. Highlighting the role of international stakeholders, Kamto expressed deep unease over a recent agreement signed between ELECAM and the United Nations on May 9, which he claims lacks transparency and legitimacy, particularly given ELECAM’s refusal to publish the electoral roll.
He also raised questions about the timing of a visit by a French gendarmerie general on June 8, who reportedly met with Cameroonian security officials ahead of the election. Kamto warned that any complicity by foreign partners in an undemocratic process would carry historical consequences. Furthermore, Kamto alleged that some CPDM hardliners are exploring the possibility of postponing the October elections, a move he characterizes as a potential “electoral coup d’état.”
He reminded the public that Cameroon officially entered the electoral period on June 15, as per Article 86(2) of the Electoral Code, and that any delay in convening the electorate by July 17 would constitute a direct violation of the law. As the clock ticks toward what could be one of Cameroon’s most consequential elections in decades, Kamto’s statement serves as both a warning and a call to vigilance. While his allegations remain unproven, they reflect a deepening mistrust in state institutions and a volatile political environment in which democratic transition appears increasingly uncertain.
The CPDM has not officially responded to Kamto’s latest accusations. ELECAM, for its part, has maintained that it is operating within the framework of Cameroonian law and has not publicly commented on the allegations of electoral obstruction.
