Cameroon’s Constitutional Council has upheld a decision to reject the candidacy of Maurice Kamto, the main rival to President Paul Biya, in the October 12 presidential election.
The electoral commission had excluded Kamto from the list of approved candidates, citing that he was running under the banner of the MANIDEM party, which also supported another candidate.
Kamto appealed the decision, but the Constitutional Council confirmed the ruling, which cannot be appealed.
The decision has raised concerns about the credibility of the electoral process, with Human Rights Watch stating that it undermines the democratic principles enshrined in the constitution.
Kamto, who came second in the 2018 presidential election with 14% of the vote, has been a prominent challenger to Biya’s 43-year rule.
Biya, 92, has announced his intention to seek re-election, sparking concerns about his health and the long-standing criticisms of his authoritarian leadership style.
Protests erupted in support of Kamto, but were dispersed by police firing tear gas, resulting in several detentions.
The incident highlights the ongoing tensions between the government and opposition parties in Cameroon.
