Cameroon’s opposition leader Maurice Kamto denounces unconstitutional municipal term extension
Maurice Kamto, leader of Cameroon’s Movement for the Renaissance of Cameroon (MRC), has accused the government of violating the Constitution through its recent extension of municipal councilors’ mandates. The announcement comes after a presidential decree issued on May 4, 2026, extended the terms of local officials beyond previously established limits.
The opposition figure argues that the decree encroaches on legislative authority, as it empowers the president to override electoral law without parliamentary approval. Kamto specifically challenges the legality of the extension, citing the absence of retroactive provisions in the April 14, 2026 law that enabled this maneuver. The original electoral code, as outlined in the former Article 170, had capped term extensions at 18 months, a restriction now effectively removed.
Under the previous legal framework, municipal mandates were set to expire by August 9, 2026. However, the new decree pushes the deadline to February 27, 2026, a move Kamto condemns as a breach of constitutional principles. He asserts that the decree violates the non-retroactivity clause, which stipulates that laws cannot apply to past events, only future ones.
Drawing on legal expertise and democratic principles, Kamto warns that as of June 1, 2026, municipal councils nationwide will be in a state of legal vacancy. He urges local executives to recognize this void and take appropriate legal action regarding their own mandates and the communities they represent.
The opposition leader has formally petitioned the Constitutional Council, demanding it compel the president to organize municipal elections. His request hinges on the argument that the current legal framework disrupts institutional functioning. However, questions linger about the effectiveness of such a petition, given the council’s historical reluctance to intervene in politically sensitive cases.
