In a move that has sent shockwaves across Cameroon, the Constitutional Council has upheld the exclusion of opposition candidate Maurice Kamto from the upcoming presidential election. This decision, which followed a petition from Barrister Akere Muna seeking to disqualify incumbent President Paul Biya, has been met with widespread criticism and has deepened fears of political instability ahead of the October 12th poll.

For many, the ruling is a stark illustration of the challenges facing Cameroon’s democratic process. Kamto, a key rival to President Biya and the runner-up in the last election, was a formidable contender. His exclusion from the ballot effectively removes a major voice of opposition, leading to accusations that the electoral process is rigged in favor of the long-serving incumbent. This is a common claim against the Biya regime, which has been in power since 1982. Critics argue that the government has long used state institutions to stifle dissent and eliminate political competition.

The Constitutional Council’s decision is particularly contentious because it rejected a petition to disqualify the 92-year-old President Biya on grounds of his advanced age and presumed health-related incapacities. Akere Muna’s petition argued that Biya’s health and alleged “governance by proxy” render him ineligible to run for another term. The Council’s dismissal of this petition, while simultaneously barring Kamto, has been widely perceived as a politically motivated double standard.

The timing of this ruling, just weeks before the election, has only heightened tensions. Protests have already broken out in the capital, Yaoundé, with security forces using tear gas to disperse crowds of Kamto’s supporters. The exclusion of key opposition figures, coupled with what critics describe as the suppression of public freedoms, is creating a volatile pre-election environment. As a nation, Cameroon is grappling with an unresolved conflict in its English-speaking regions, an issue that has been exacerbated by political turmoil. The exclusion of a candidate who could potentially address these grievances is a dangerous gamble that could lead to further unrest.

The international community is watching with growing concern. Human rights organizations have criticized the decision, stating that it undermines the credibility of the electoral process and the rights of Cameroonians to participate in free and fair elections. The government’s actions risk making the October election a non-event, with the outcome predetermined and the legitimacy of the winner called into question. As Cameroon heads to the polls, the focus is now less on who will win, and more on what the fallout of this controversial decision will be for the country’s fragile stability. Sources