With municipal and legislative elections approaching, tensions are emerging within Cameroon’s ruling party, the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM).
The dispute began on September 9, when around 30 CPDM activists from the Mfoundi II section gathered outside the party’s Central Committee headquarters in Yaoundé. They were protesting several appointments made as part of preparations for the upcoming elections.
Holding red cards and protest signs, the activists challenged the choice of supervisors and mission officers responsible for overseeing the party’s electoral activities. They described the appointments as questionable and called for them to be reviewed.
Following the protest, a delegation was received by a Central Committee official. The activists handed over a memorandum addressed to CPDM national president Paul Biya, outlining their grievances and requesting a review of the disputed decisions.
Meanwhile, the dispute triggered a response from senior party figures. Gilbert Tsimi Evouna, president of the Centre Regional Council and an influential figure in Mfoundi, cancelled the appointments made by Laurent Serge Etoundi Ngoa, Minister of Basic Education and a senior CPDM official.
The matter was then referred to Jean Nkuete, Secretary-General of the CPDM Central Committee. His arbitration reportedly favoured the former Government Delegate, adding a new twist to the internal dispute.
Although tensions within the Cameroon Renaissance Movement have dominated political headlines in recent months, this episode shows that the CPDM is also facing internal disagreements.
As the elections draw closer, disputes over nominations, local responsibilities and political influence could further expose divisions within the ruling party.
