As Cameroon prepares for the 2025 presidential election scheduled for October 12, debates within the opposition continue to dominate the national conversation. Recently, Mamadou Mota, first vice-president of the Cameroon Renaissance Movement (MRC), voiced frustration over the process of selecting a “consensus candidate” to challenge President Paul Biya. According to Mota, the MRC was not invited to participate in the talks leading to the candidate’s designation, a move he described as unfair and politically questionable.

The issue highlights once again the fragile state of opposition politics in Cameroon. For years, calls for unity among opposition parties have been strong, with analysts warning that fragmented candidacies only serve to prolong the dominance of the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM). The idea of rallying behind a single “consensus candidate” was meant to be the solution. Yet, as Mota’s statement shows, the process is far from inclusive.

In his remarks, Mamadou Mota insisted that the MRC — the party founded by Professor Maurice Kamto, one of Cameroon’s most influential opposition figures — cannot simply be sidelined in such a crucial decision. He argued that the legitimacy of any consensus candidate depends on broad consultation and participation from all major political forces. By excluding the MRC, Mota warned, the process risks losing credibility among voters who expect fairness, transparency, and true unity.

The MRC has been one of the most vocal critics of President Biya’s administration, especially after the controversial 2018 presidential election, where Maurice Kamto claimed victory but was declared runner-up. Since then, the party has faced repression, arrests of activists, and restrictions on its activities. Despite these challenges, the MRC continues to represent a significant share of the opposition, particularly among urban youth and reform-minded Cameroonians.

Observers believe that sidelining the MRC from the consensus-building process could backfire. Instead of presenting a united opposition, Cameroon could once again see multiple candidates competing against Biya or his chosen successor, splitting the opposition vote. This would almost certainly play to the advantage of the ruling CPDM, which has relied on opposition disunity for decades.

Mota’s statement also reflects deeper frustrations about how politics is conducted in Cameroon. For many opposition members, consensus must not mean exclusion. Instead, it should involve dialogue, negotiation, and compromise. Without that, any candidate presented as a “consensus choice” may fail to inspire genuine national support.

As the election approaches, the stakes are extremely high. Cameroon faces pressing challenges — from economic hardship and youth unemployment to security crises in the Far North and the Anglophone regions. Citizens are looking for leadership that can deliver stability, growth, and inclusiveness. For this reason, many analysts argue that opposition leaders must urgently resolve their differences if they hope to convince the population that they are a credible alternative.

Mamadou Mota’s sharp criticism serves as a reminder that unity in words must be matched by unity in action. Whether the MRC will eventually be included in opposition talks, or whether it will pursue its own candidate, remains to be seen. What is clear, however, is that the road to 2025 is already marked by political tension, uncertainty, and the enduring question of whether Cameroon’s opposition can finally overcome division.

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