Statement relating to the CPDM press release dated january 14, 2025

The Cameroon Renaissance Movement (CRM) has taken note of the Press Release dated January 14, 2025, in which the Secretary General of the Central Committee of the CPDM denounces, with the arrogance typical of his party, the words and actions of « political and social actors of all stripes » who not only do not sing the praises of his party, but draw the attention of Cameroonians to the dramatic situation in the country. He notes the objectives that, according to him, these « anti-republican, irresponsible and condemnable actions » are aimed at, as if the CPDM knew what the Republic is, it which promotes state tribalism and political terror, flouts the rule of law by shamelessly trampling on the laws of the Republic, starting with the Constitution, and feeds on the injustices of a justice system that is being cut to size.

Among the three objectives he criticizes, he includes the one which would consist of « preparing consciences for possible violence in the perspective of announced defeats for some or non-participation in the presidential election for others. »

The Secretary General of the CPDM who speaks of the announced defeat of some has probably not realized that it is his own comrades in the party who have been announcing since at least 2023 the defeat of the CPDM in the upcoming presidential election and find no other way out of their debacle than a « military coup » that would deprive the elected candidate of the CRM of power. And the very republican Secretary General of the CPDM has never said even half a word to denounce this disastrous call for an anti-republican act par excellence, by official and appointed communicators of his party. He covers his ears so as not to hear the same people, and even more so the Minister of Territorial Administration, a well-known activist of his party, who has been trumpeting since at least 2021, not even that the CRM will not be able to present a candidate in the next presidential election, but that its National President, Maurice KAMTO, will not be a candidate in the said election, and this, contrary to the current state of the law on the matter.

Who is showing « feverishness » and waving an illusory specter likely to « create and maintain a generalized climate of fear, tension, panic, worry and insecurity among the population in this presidential election year »? Who has been sowing physical, intellectual and psychological terror in our country for decades, from the multiple attempted coups d’état of 1983-84, to the barbaric repressions of 1990-92, then at the end of this decade with the missing persons of Bépanda , those of 2008 following the so- called hunger riots, then at the end of 2018, in 2019, 2020 with point-blank shots at peaceful marchers, the assassinations of religious leaders and various others that have not been elucidated to this day, to recall only a few emblematic moments? History is not written with an eraser and no attempt at role reversal will deceive Cameroonians about the real nature of the CPDM regime and its terrorist feats of arms.

Adapting the words of a French thinker, Blaise Pascal, I would say that instead of making what is right strong, the current regime has made what is strong considered right. And that is where our country is! It is since the dual legislative and municipal elections of 2020 that the CPDM has been clamoring about the non-participation of the National President of the CRM, invested by his party, in the 2025 presidential election, on the curious grounds that the CRM having boycotted the said election cannot take part in the upcoming presidential election.

By what right can the Secretary General of a supposedly republican political party so easily substitute himself for the legal authorities authorized to receive applications, to examine their compliance with the law – and the law alone – and to draw up the list of those who meet the required conditions? How could the Secretary General of the party that runs the country, and who should be more attached than anyone else to respect for the law and the general interest, have allowed himself to be drawn into the panic that is taking over the ranks of his party, if not because he himself is convinced of the certain defeat of the candidate that the CPDM will support? I say will support, because in the current state of affairs, the CPDM cannot present a candidate in the next presidential election. And he knows it. Instead of engaging in political hooliganism as has been the case for some time now, the CPDM should have the courage to tell its activists that in light of the relevant provisions of their party’s statutes, they will not have a candidate in the October 2025 presidential election, whether it be the current President of the Republic or any of the activists of this party. The only options left to the CPDM are either to have the candidacy of someone from their ranks presented by one of their allied parties with representatives in the municipal councils or in the National Assembly, or for the person concerned to obtain the 300 signatures required by the Electoral Code and present himself as an independent candidate. In either case, there should be no difficulties.

The competent authorities to decide on the validity of the candidacies will do so when the time comes. Unlike the CPDM and its leaders, we are not so hasty and irresponsible to decide the question.

As for me, I have informed the public that I will be a candidate in the presidential election of October 2025, because my candidacy will be presented in conditions consistent with the Constitution of our country and the electoral law. I said it again the last time in my message of December 31, 2024, I say it again today and will not come back to it. The CPDM and anyone else will have to come to terms with it. It is surprising that people who half-heartedly concede that I have some legal skills are the same people who strive to give me lessons in law through risky comments on the Electoral Code. The CPDM and its outgrowths and other satellites believe they can distract or discourage Cameroonians with verbiage on this subject. But only those who do not want to listen can believe that this would be a subject for debate.

Any person, at whatever level, who pushes zeal or hatred, or any other dark sentiment, to the point of violating the laws to satisfy the clearly assumed anti-democratic dream of the CPDM will be declared an enemy of the Cameroonian people and treated as such, without any consideration. I often hear some harvesters of summary knowledge declaim like a mantra that « the State has a monopoly on « legitimate violence ». Not only is this not a legal statement, but such a statement stems from a partial reading of the work of the sociologist Max Weber. Assuming that this formula means something to the jurist in a state governed by the rule of law, it would be important to specify that the State only has a monopoly on « legitimate violence » when it is exercised within the framework and limits set by law.

It is in no one’s interest to play with fire, and no one should believe that force triumphs irremediably. The CPDM and its regime can now renounce the multifaceted violence they are exerting on the Cameroonian people, permanently and without reply.

I urge Cameroonians from all regions of the country and the diaspora to continue to register on the electoral lists even more massively than in 2024, to go and vote just as massively on election day, to monitor their votes with absolute vigilance and to defend them if necessary, so that our country astonishes the world with its capacity to create a democratic alternation, through the ballot boxes in this year 2025.

Done in Yaoundé, January 21, 2025

Maurice KAMTO

National President of the CRM,

Candidate of the CRM and the PAC in the 2025 presidential election

All reactions:

720Yannick Donne-moi la Colas and 719 others