André Luther Meka, a prominent figure in the ruling Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (RDPC), is urging activists of the Cameroon Renaissance Movement (MRC) to distance themselves from their leader, Maurice Kamto, ahead of the upcoming elections. In a public statement made this Tuesday, Meka asserted that Kamto's illegitimacy as head of the MRC is, in his view, "glaring and indisputable from the point of view of the MRC's texts and the law".
The call comes in the lead-up to the municipal and legislative elections of 2027. Meka advises MRC activists to set up an interim steering committee to manage the party's candidacies. "I give you this advice because I am an advocate of democracy like my national president. We want healthy competition," he declared.
This stance is part of a Cameroonian political context often marked by tensions between the RDPC, in power since 1960, and the opposition, particularly the MRC. Maurice Kamto, who officially garnered 14% of the vote in the disputed 2018 presidential election, remains a leading figure in the opposition.
The MRC has often denounced irregularities in the electoral process and has criticized the perceived interference of the United Nations in Cameroon's electoral affairs. In May 2025, the party expressed concerns about a technical assistance agreement between Elections Cameroon (Elecam) and the UN, fearing a repeat of the 2010 post-election crisis in Côte d'Ivoire.
André Luther Meka, known for his commitment to the RDPC, holds the position of Head of the Division of Administrative and Financial Affairs (DAAF) at the Higher School of Economics and Commercial Sciences (ESSEC) of the University of Douala. His public stances are often seen as defending the interests of the ruling party. Whether MRC activists will heed his advice remains to be seen, but this statement adds a new dimension to the political debate ahead of the upcoming elections.
