**Cameroon Opponent Denied Candidacy Against Aging President Biya**

Cameroon's political landscape shifts as the key dissenting voice is silenced ahead of a contentious election.

Maurice Kamto, the prominent opposition leader in Cameroon, has been excluded from the candidate list for the upcoming presidential election on 12 October. Only 13 of the 83 candidates submitted were approved by the electoral authority, Elecam, with Kamto's name notably absent. In the previous election in 2018, Kamto finished as a runner-up but faced allegations of electoral fraud.

Despite being 92 years old, President Paul Biya – the oldest president in the world – has confirmed his intention to run for an eighth consecutive term, claiming he has much to contribute to the nation. His extended rule spans 43 years, and he remains adamant in his position amid growing calls for his resignation.

Kamto's omission is reportedly due to a registration conflict within the Manidem party, where he was one of two candidates vying for representation. Another candidate from a splinter faction inadvertently registered as well, leading to Kamto's exclusion, which Manidem's president, Anicet Ekane, has deemed “arbitrary and provocative.” He urged citizens to exercise calm while they prepare to appeal to the Constitutional Council regarding this decision.

The opposition leader was previously the nominee for the Cameroon Renaissance Movement (CRM), but changes in representation eligibility have forced him to pivot to the Manidem party. Alongside Kamto, notable figures such as anti-corruption lawyer Akere Muna and Joshua Osih, leader of the Social Democratic Front (SDF), will challenge Biya, who faces off against two former associates.

With Kamto's exclusion, the current electoral atmosphere underscores the ongoing struggles and complexities facing opposition leaders in Cameroon, as elections draw nearer and the country braces for potential unrest.