Cameroon’s opposition leader accuses government of constitutional breach in local election delay
Maurice Kamto, leader of Cameroon’s Movement for the Renaissance of Cameroon (MRC), has formally lodged a constitutional challenge against the government’s decision to extend the term of municipal councillors. This follows a presidential decree issued on May 4, 2026, that extended the mandate of local representatives beyond previously established constitutional limits.
The former law professor argues that the recent legislative amendment—passed and enacted on April 14, 2026—violates core democratic principles and encroaches on the legislative domain reserved for parliament. The contested law grants the presidency authority to prolong municipal mandates beyond the 18-month cap previously defined in electoral law, despite the absence of any retroactive clause in the new legislation.
According to Kamto, the presidential decree extending mandates until February 27, 2026—despite the original deadline of August 9, 2026—directly contravenes the constitutional principle of non-retroactivity. This principle, enshrined in the preamble of Cameroon’s Constitution, stipulates that laws may only apply prospectively, not to past circumstances.
In a legal assessment released on June 1, 2026, Kamto asserts that municipal councils across Cameroon are now operating in a state of legal vacancy. He calls on local executives to formally recognize this irregularity and take appropriate legal and administrative measures to address the situation within their jurisdictions.
The opposition figure has petitioned the Constitutional Council to compel the president to organize fresh municipal elections. However, questions remain over whether the Council will accept jurisdiction or dismiss the challenge on procedural grounds, as it has done in several previous cases involving constitutional disputes.
