Cameroon’s opposition leader Maurice Kamto accuses the government of overstepping constitutional boundaries through an unconstitutional extension of municipal council terms.
In a bold move, Maurice Kamto, President of the Movement for the Renaissance of Cameroon (MRC), has declared his intention to challenge the presidential decree that extended the mandates of local councilors. The decree, issued on May 4, 2026, has drawn sharp criticism for allegedly violating the Constitution by encroaching on parliamentary authority and undermining democratic principles.
At the heart of Kamto’s argument is the claim that the recent legal amendment, which removed the 18-month limit on mandate extensions, lacks retroactive application. The amendment, passed on April 14, 2026, does not explicitly state that its provisions apply to past decisions, yet the government has retroactively extended mandates until February 27, 2026. This, Kamto asserts, breaches the constitutional principle that laws should not apply to events prior to their enactment.
Under the previous legal framework, municipal mandates were set to expire by August 9, 2026. Instead, the government’s decree pushed this deadline forward, sparking concerns over legal vacancies. Kamto warns that as of June 1, 2026, municipal councils nationwide will be in a state of legal vacancy. He urges local executives to acknowledge this irregularity and take appropriate legal action for themselves and the communities they represent.
The opposition leader has filed a petition with the Constitutional Council, demanding that the President be ordered to organize fresh municipal elections. However, the effectiveness of this move remains uncertain, as the Constitutional Council has a history of dismissing similar challenges on procedural grounds.
