Latest news with #Yaounde
Arab News
5 days ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Cameroon court rejects opposition leader's presidential candidacy: lawyer
YAOUNDE: Cameroon's constitutional court on Tuesday rejected the candidacy of President Paul Biya's main opponent in October's presidential election, the contender's lawyer said. The Constitutional Council ruled that the candidacy of Maurice Kamto, a high-profile critic of the longtime president, 'cannot be valid and the immediate consequence is that he will not participate in the presidential race,' Hippolyte Meli Tiakouang told reporters after the hearing. Biya, 92, has been in power since 1982 and is seeking an eighth term in office in the October 12 contest. Kamto, 71, who resigned from the MRC at the end of June, came second to Biya in the 2018 presidential election. He sought to run this time as the candidate for the African Movement for New Independence and Democracy (MANIDEM) and had officially submitted his candidacy last month. In the 2018 election, Kamto stood for the Cameroon Renaissance Movement (MRC) but under the electoral code, parties wanting to run in the presidential election must have MPs in parliament or deputies in municipal councils. The MRC boycotted the last legislative and municipal elections in 2020. Constitutional Council president Clement Atangana ruled Kamto's appeals were admissible for the court to hear but then judged them 'unfounded.' Another MANIDEM candidate submitted his candidacy, but that was also rejected. After the ruling, Kamto did not comment. MANIDEM president Anicet Ekane called it 'a political decision. We take note of it. 'For the time being, we will not make a statement. We are reflecting on the decision and will decide,' said Ekane. No media outlet was authorized to broadcast the Constitutional Council's debates and decisions live. The ministry of territorial administration announced the arrest of several people accused of disturbing public order near its premises. Cameroon's opposition is struggling to challenge the Biya administration. On Saturday, a group of representatives from several parties published a statement in which they committed 'to the choice of a consensus candidate around a common program' without any name being put forward. In the run-up to Kamto's exclusion, Human Rights Watch had warned that not allowing him to stand would raise concerns about the credibility of the electoral process. 'Excluding the most popular opponent from the electoral process will leave a shadow over whatever results are eventually announced,' warned Ilaria Allegrozzi, senior Africa researcher at HRW. The NGO warned that the move reflected 'the government's long-standing intolerance of any opposition and dissent, and comes amid increased repression of opponents, activists, and lawyers since mid-2024.' So far, Cameroon's Election Commission has approved 13 out of 83 prospective candidates,including Biya and former government spokesman Issa Tchiroma Bakary.
Reuters
5 days ago
- Politics
- Reuters
Cameroon judicial body backs barring of opposition presidential candidate
YAOUNDE, Aug 5 (Reuters) - Cameroon's Constitutional Council on Tuesday upheld a decision to reject the candidacy of Maurice Kamto, the main rival to President Paul Biya, in a presidential election on October 12. The electoral commission in July excluded Kamto from the list of candidates approved to contest the vote. It said Kamto was barred because he was running under the banner of the MANIDEM party, which also supported a second candidate. Kamto appealed against the decision within the two-day deadline. However, Clement Atangana, President of the Constitutional Council, confirmed the ruling in a decision that cannot be appealed. Kamto could not be immediately reached for comment. Human Rights Watch said in a statement last week that the electoral board's decision to exclude Kamto raised concerns about the credibility of the electoral process. On Monday, dozens of protesters gathered at the entrance of the Constitutional Council to show their support for Kamto but were dispersed by police firing tear gas. A police commissioner told Reuters on Monday that several people had been detained and remain in custody. In the last election in 2018, Kamto came in second place with 14% of the vote, while Biya won by a landslide amid allegations of fraud, which he rejected. Biya, 92, has been in power for 43 years and is the world's oldest serving head of state. He announced his intention last month to seek re-election.
Washington Post
6 days ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
Cameroon's constitutional council bars main opposition candidate from presidential race
YAOUNDE, Cameroon — Cameroon's constitutional council on Tuesday rejected opposition candidate Maurice Kamto's appeal to be reinstated on the ballot for the upcoming presidential election. Kamto, a former government minister, is seen as the main challenger to long-serving President Paul Biya. Kamto had filed an appeal last month after the electoral commission did not include him in the list of approved candidates.
Associated Press
6 days ago
- Politics
- Associated Press
Cameroon's constitutional council bars main opposition candidate from presidential race
YAOUNDE, Cameroon (AP) — Cameroon's constitutional council on Tuesday rejected opposition candidate Maurice Kamto's appeal to be reinstated on the ballot for the upcoming presidential election. Kamto, a former government minister, is seen as the main challenger to long-serving President Paul Biya. Kamto had filed an appeal last month after the electoral commission did not include him in the list of approved candidates. The decision Tuesday fueled fears of unrest and increases the likelihood of another Biya victory. Security forces were deployed around the conference center in the capital Yaounde, where the Constitutional Council announced the verdict, and along the city's major roads. The previous day, police had fired tear gas and arrested dozens of people who were protesting in support of Kamto ahead of verdict. Kamto was considered Biya's strongest rival in past elections. He came second during the last presidential election in 2018 with 14% of the vote, while Biya cruised to victory with over 70% in an election marred by irregularities and a low turnout. Biya, 92, the world's oldest serving head of state, said last month he would seek reelection on Oct. 12 despite rumors that his health is failing. He has been in power since 1982, nearly half his lifetime. Biya's rule has left a lasting impact on Cameroon. His government has faced various challenges, including allegations of corruption and a deadly secessionist conflict in the nation's English-speaking provinces that has forced thousands out of school.
BBC News
6 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
D-day for Maurice Kamto as constitutional council go rule on im eligibility to run for Cameroon president
Cameroon constitutional council dey expected to rule on di petition wey opposition leader Maurice Kamto file on Tuesday, 5 August to challenge im exclusion from di list of candidates wey go run for di October presidential election for Cameroon. Dem make di decision during one proceedings wey include debates from Maurice Kamto plus im defence team, and representatives of di electoral body Elecam and interior ministry. Oga Kamto bin defend im candidacy as e insist on di complete nature of di file wey e submit to Elecam. E urge di constitutional council to make a fair decision. "We believe say di elements raised during di hearings fit make di constitutional council reverse di decision wey di electoral body take," Desiré Sikati, one of di lawyers wey dey represent Maurice Kamto, tell BBC. For one earlier opening session, di council bin dismiss several petitions, wey include one from one local elected official from Biya ruling CPDM wey dey contest di candidacy of di 92-year-old president. For July, di Electoral Commission (Elecam) bin exclude Oga Kamto name from di official list of presidential candidates wey dem clear to run for di 12 October vote. Elecam say di disqualification na sake of say di Movement for New Independence and Democracy party wey sponsor Oga Kamto candidature field more dan one presidential candidate for di election. Di electoral commission bin clear only 13 candidates out of di 83 wey wan run for di election. Pipo see Oga Kamto wey come second for di 2018 presidential election, as potential strong challenger to di incumbent President Paul Biya. Di Constitutional Council get di final say for electoral disputes. E neva dey clear wetin di verdict go be, but a dismissal of Kamto petition fit spark tensions for di middle of concerns say some pipo dey try prevent di firebrand opposition figure from challenging im former boss for di polls. Why Elecam exclude Oga Maurice Kamto name Dem exclude Kamto sake of say e be one of two candidates wey dey registered to represent di Manidem party. Even though di party ruling body bin don officially adopt am, anoda candidate from a splinter group also register imsef under di party name. Manidem president Anicet Ekane describe Kamto exclusion as "arbitrary and provocative". "We call on all Cameroonians to show calm and restraint becos for di moment, na only offside goal. We must resolve dis mata and we don carry am go di Constitutional Council," e add. Oga Kamto na di candidate for di Cameroon Renaissance Movement (CRM) for 2018 but dem no allow di party to endorse anybody dis year sake of say dem lack elected representatives for parliament or local councils. So Kamto just recently join di Manidem party, wey get local representation. Renowned anti-corruption lawyer Akere Muna, Social Democratic Front (SDF) leader Joshua Osih, and lawmaker Cabral Libii dey among di oda candidates wey dey cleared to run. Firebrand Mayor of Foumban Patricia Tomaino Ndam Njoya na di only female candidate on di list.
