YAOUNDÉ, Cameroon (Chatnewstv.com) — Two longtime allies of Cameroonian President Paul Biya have declared their candidacies for the country’s October presidential election, signaling growing fractures within the ruling elite as questions mount over Biya’s political future.
Issa Tchiroma Bakary, 75 years old Biya’s former spokesman and a powerful northern political figure, resigned from his government post on June 26 to run for president. Two days later, 78 years old Tourism Minister and former Prime Minister Bello Bouba Maïgari formally launched his campaign.
“I’m running to put an end to the old system,” Tchiroma said in his announcement, taking aim at the administration he served for decades. Shortly after his declaration, authorities banned all political activity by his party in parts of northern Cameroon.
Both Tchiroma and Maïgari hail from the country’s influential northern regions and have been key political allies of Biya, supporting him in multiple past elections through coalitions with his ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM). Their defections have raised speculation that other northern elites may also break away from the party.
The 92-year-old Biya, who has ruled since 1982, has yet to announce whether he will seek an eighth term. The CPDM has remained dominant for decades through tight control of the electoral commission, judiciary, and security forces, according to independent observers. Cameroon has effectively operated as a one-party state since the 1990s.
Despite concerns over his health, CPDM elites have worked to maintain support through regional coalitions. But the departure of two senior northern politicians threatens to weaken the party’s electoral base in the north, home to up to 40% of Cameroon’s voting population. Political analysts say the defections could undercut CPDM’s support, though both candidates face skepticism due to their long-standing loyalty to Biya.
Government crackdowns have hampered the broader opposition’s ability to capitalize on the growing dissent. Thirty opposition parties recently rallied behind former minister Maurice Kamto, who claims he won the 2018 election. Authorities responded by banning Kamto’s coalition and changing election laws that could disqualify his candidacy.
“The regime is trying to silence alternative voices,” said an opposition party member who requested anonymity due to fear of reprisals.
The election is expected to carry significant implications for U.S. interests in regional security and geopolitics. Cameroon is a key partner in combating jihadist groups near the Sahel and securing maritime trade in the Gulf of Guinea. U.S. forces have trained Cameroonian troops and included the country in major regional exercises, such as African Lion 25 earlier this year.
Meanwhile, China and Russia have strengthened ties with Yaoundé. China upgraded relations to a “comprehensive strategic partnership” in 2024, while Russia renewed military cooperation agreements and deployed information campaigns across Cameroon to bolster its anti-Western narrative.
Despite its strategic value and economic potential, Cameroon’s corruption and political instability have discouraged Western investment. The U.S. State Department describes the country as offering “immense investment potential,” but private American investors remain cautious.
Tchiroma and Maïgari’s candidacies could upend Cameroon’s political calculus, but their ability to challenge a deeply entrenched system remains uncertain.
Editor: Gabriel Ani
