Cameroon’s main opposition leader, Maurice Kamto, has accused the police of surrounding his home in Douala for the past two days after he returned from France, where he held a political rally that angered the ruling CPDM party.
On Sunday, law enforcement officers blocked the 71-year-old from leaving his apartment to attend a meeting with members of his Cameroon Renaissance Movement (CRM) party. He later canceled the meeting due to the strong police presence.
Kamto plans to contest the presidential election later this year, aiming to end Paul Biya’s four-decade grip on power. Biya, 92, has not yet declared whether he will stand for re-election.
Kamto’s eligibility to run is in question due to a law requiring political parties to have elected representatives. However, he insists there’s “no legal obstacle” stopping his bid.
The police presence around Kamto’s home has sparked concerns about the government’s crackdown on dissent.
Rights groups have condemned the government’s actions, citing increased restrictions on opposition leaders.
This development comes as the country faces a separatist insurgency in its English-speaking provinces, which has resulted in at least 6,000 deaths and hundreds of thousands displaced.
In a statement, Kamto told supporters, “As I speak, I’m still sequestered.” He urged them to “go home in calm and dignity”. The CRM party representative, Guy Tassé, believes the government’s actions are a “political maneuver to block the candidate they fear because he embodies real change”.
