Cameroon’s government has taken a hard line against two opposition coalitions, branding them “illegal” and ordering them to cease all activities. This move comes just 18 months before the country’s next presidential election, raising concerns about a potential crackdown on dissent.
The targeted groups, the Political Alliance for Change (APC) and the Alliance for Political Transition in Cameroon (ATP), have been accused of operating outside the bounds of the law. Territorial Administration Minister Paul Atanga Nji declared them “clandestine movements” not recognized as official political parties. He warned against their continued activities, including meetings, press conferences, and recruitment drives.
The government’s statement also expressed broad suspicion of any organization perceived as mobilizing for the 2025 election. This has been met with defiance from the APC, which dismissed the accusations as “panic-stricken threats.” The alliance vowed to participate in the upcoming election and expressed confidence in achieving victory.
The APC is led by former deputy Jean Michel Nintcheu and emerged from the main opposition party, the Movement for the Renaissance of Cameroon (MRC). The MRC’s presidential candidate in 2018, Maurice Kamto, remains a contentious figure. After challenging the official results that declared Biya the winner, Kamto was arrested and jailed without trial. The MRC responded by boycotting subsequent legislative elections and saw a wave of arrests target its supporters, with hundreds detained, including Kamto himself.
While most were eventually released, 47 activists remain imprisoned on terrorism charges levied by a military tribunal. Rights groups like Amnesty International have condemned the Cameroonian government’s use of such tactics to silence opposition voices, including journalists, civil society figures, and civilians, under the guise of counter-terrorism efforts. The upcoming election campaign is likely to be a tense affair, with questions lingering about the government’s tolerance for dissent.
