Cameroonian opposition figure Maurice Kamto has filed an appeal with the Constitutional Council after being barred from running in October’s presidential election.
Kamto, who placed second to longtime President Paul Biya in the 2018 vote, was disqualified last week by electoral body Elecam. Officials claimed that Manidem the party Kamto represents had already registered another candidate for the 2025 presidential race.
Supporters of Kamto say the move is politically motivated and point to other parties that have fielded multiple candidates without facing similar sanctions.
At 92, President Biya remains the world’s oldest serving head of state, having led Cameroon since 1982. Kamto is widely regarded as his most prominent challenger.
The United Nations Department of Safety and Security has cautioned that the exclusion of opposition candidates could spark public unrest, particularly in the capital, Yaoundé.
