According to a release by the coalition, the endorsement was considered premature and contrary to the Douala Group’s ongoing consultation process aimed at selecting a single, consensus candidate to challenge the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement, CPDM in the October 2025 presidential election.
The Douala Group for Change, a coalition of Cameroonian opposition figures working toward a unified presidential bid in 2025, has announced the expulsion of Prof Abaa Oyono following his public endorsement of opposition leader Maurice Kamto. In a press release issued on Sunday, June 1st, 2025, group spokesperson Anicet Ekane stated that the decision was taken after Prof. Oyono’s appearance and public declaration of support for Kamto at a Cameroon Renaissance Movement, CRM rally in Paris last Saturday May 31.
According to the release, the endorsement was considered premature and contrary to the Douala Group’s ongoing consultation process aimed at selecting a single, consensus candidate to challenge the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement, CPDM in the October 2025 presidential election. “By endorsing a candidate outside the established consultation framework, Professor Abaa Oyono has effectively excluded himself from the ongoing process and is no longer considered a member of the Douala Group,” the statement read. The group emphasized that no opposition candidate has yet been officially selected, and that consultations with various stakeholders are still underway.
Ekane noted that the group continues to prioritize unity and collective strategy over individual political moves. Formed by prominent opposition voices including Cyrille Sam Mbaka, Anicet Ekane, and until now, Prof. Abaa Oyono, the Douala Group is working to rally political parties and civil society around a single platform for change. The initiative has gained traction among segments of the population disillusioned by decades of CPDM rule. Describing itself as a vehicle for democratic renewal, the Douala Group seeks to recreate the momentum of the early 1990s, when a unified opposition posed a serious challenge to the status quo.
However, the group faces challenges common to opposition politics in Cameroon, including fragmentation, internal dissent, and limited access to state-controlled media. Prof. Oyono’s endorsement of Kamto, a leading opposition figure and 2018 presidential candidate, reignited debate within the opposition ranks over strategy and leadership. While some view Kamto as the natural choice for 2025, others within the Douala Group argue that bypassing the consultation process undermines the unity they are working to build.
The group has pledged to inform both national and international audiences of the outcome of its consultations in the coming months.
Who is Prof Jean Calvin Aba’a Oyono?
Prof Jean Calvin Aba’a Oyono is a prominent Cameroonian legal scholar and public intellectual, known for his critical stance on governance and advocacy for democratic reforms in Cameroon. As a professor of public law at the University of Yaoundé II, he has been vocal about issues affecting the country’s political and educational systems. In recent years, Prof Aba’a Oyono has emerged as a leading voice against corruption and political interference in Cameroon. He has criticized the involvement of traditional leaders in politics, arguing that such actions contravene the constitutional mandate for their neutrality. He has also highlighted systemic issues within the education sector, including unpaid academic dues, claiming that the state owes him approximately 40 million FCFA for services rendered over two decades.
