Camer360

The Movement for the Renaissance of Cameroon (MRC) has brought Maurice Kamto back to the helm of the party following a National Council meeting held in Yaoundé on 6–7 September 2025.

Delegates took two major decisions during the gathering. First, the MRC resolved to support a candidate in the upcoming 12 October presidential election—but under one condition: the candidate must come from a broad opposition coalition. The move underscores the party’s desire to present a united front against the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM) of President Paul Biya.

Second, members voted unanimously for the return of Maurice Kamto as party president. Kamto had stepped down in July to run under the banner of MANIDEM (Mouvement pour l’alternative nationale, la démocratie et l’intégration). His reinstatement signals a shift towards unity within the MRC, ahead of what many see as a pivotal election.

Political analyst Valère Bessala said Kamto remains one of the most credible figures in the opposition. “He was the one who inspired the most fear within government,” he remarked, stressing that Kamto’s ministerial past should not discredit him but rather be seen as part of his service to the nation.

The return of Kamto is expected to reshape the opposition’s electoral strategy. Whether this will translate into a single consensual candidate remains uncertain, but the MRC’s decision highlights the urgency of forming a common platform to challenge Biya’s decades-long dominance.