The police stakeout of Cameroon’s main opposition leader, Maurice Kamto, has ended after two days. Kamto had been staying in an apartment block in Douala, the country’s main city, since his return from France where he held a political rally that drew ire from the ruling CPDM party. On Sunday, law enforcement officers blocked the 71-year-old from leaving the building for a meeting with members of his Cameroon Renaissance Movement (CRM) party.
Kamto later canceled plans to hold the meeting on Monday and left for the capital, Yaoundé. The presidential hopeful aims to contest the upcoming presidential election, hoping 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 CRM party has no elected officials, raising questions about his eligibility to run for the presidency.
In a rally in Paris last month, Kamto promised to protect Biya and his family if he wins the election, stating, “When you do me the great honour of entrusting me with the reins, you can be sure that nothing will happen to Mr Biya and his family. Nothing. I guarantee it, I have no time for hatred. I [only] have time to build Cameroon with you.” However, Labour Minister Grégoire Owona criticized Kamto’s comments, calling them “pathetic” and questioning what protection Biya’s family needs.
During the stakeout, footage filmed in Douala showed Kamto telling supporters, “As I speak, I’m still sequestered.” He also urged them to “go home in calm and dignity.” Police restricted access to the CRM party building, claiming the meeting was unauthorized, but Kamto denies this, saying local authorities were informed.
Kamto insists there’s “no legal obstacle” stopping his presidential bid, and CRM representative Guy Tassé alleges a “political manoeuvre by the regime to try to block the candidate they fear because he embodies real change.” The country is facing a separatist insurgency in its English-speaking provinces, resulting in at least 6,000 deaths and hundreds of thousands displaced.