Cameroon’s Constitutional Council has definitively barred opposition leader Maurice Kamto from October’s presidential election, rejecting his appeal as "lacking legal justification" in a ruling delivered Tuesday.

Yaoundé

Cameroon's Constitutional Council has rejected the candidacy of opposition leader Maurice Kamto for the country's upcoming presidential election, stating that his appeal lacked legal justification. Kamto's legal team denounced the decision as politically motivated, arguing that it undermines the integrity of the electoral process and effectively legitimizes electoral fraud.

With all legal avenues exhausted, Kamto's lawyers indicated that no further appeals are possible and suggested that any further action would be political rather than legal. In response to the situation, authorities have issued warnings against public disturbances, while opposition groups are mobilizing to form a unified coalition against the incumbent government.

Kamto out of Cameroon’s presidential race

Cameroon's Constitutional Council has rejected opposition leader Maurice Camteau's candidacy for the October 2025 presidential election, dismissing his appeal as lacking legal justification. Camteau's lawyer denounced the decision, as politically motivated, warning it sows the seeds of electoral fraud. MAURICE CAMTEAU, Cameroon's Constitutional Council Leader We believe that we came before the Constitutional Council fully aware that it is more political than legal. That is to say, it functioned 3% legally and 97% politically. That explains the decision that was just delivered. This decision, overwhelmingly driven by political impulses, essentially legitimizes fraud and that is why we say it tarnishes the electoral process, which was meant to be a democratic process. With legal options exhausted, Camteau's lawyers state no further appeals are possible, passing responsibility to political actors to determine the next steps. We are not going to seek a remedy when the law does not provide for one. Since this is a decision driven by political reasons, political remedies remain open. But that is no longer the lawyers' job. Their legal work is done and they believe they did it properly. We are witnessing the realization of a political drama orchestrated to legitimize a decision that already has been made behind closed doors. We are in what some have often referred to as the political use of institutions, the political use of law, where political opponents co-opt the law and institutions to undermine their rivals. Amid rising tensions, authorities have issued stern warnings against disturbances to public order. Meanwhile, opposition forces are rallying for a unified coalition to challenge the incumbent government.

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