In his recent "Thought" n°105-2026, Maurice Kamto, a leading figure in the Cameroonian opposition, highlighted the crucial importance of institutions in safeguarding the rule of law. He stressed that no political actor alone can guarantee respect for laws and democratic principles.
The president of the Movement for the Rebirth of Cameroon (MRC) insists on the need for collective mobilization involving counter-powers and the various state bodies. According to him, while an individual, a political party or an association can alert and denounce violations of legality, they cannot put an end to them alone.
Kamto insists on the primary role of counter-power institutions, calling on them to fully assume their mission as guardians of legality. He urges each state body to honor its oath by acting as a bulwark for the law and the Republic. "They can alert, denounce, condemn, but cannot bring an end to violations of the Constitution, laws and regulations unless the counter-power institutions fulfill their sacred mission as guardians of legality and renounce to contribute to these violations," he says.
The opponent sees the restoration of the rule of law as a prerequisite for the development and modernization of Cameroon. He believes that the country's liberation from injustice and disregard for the law can only be the result of a collective effort. "The liberation of Cameroon from injustice and the trampling of the rule of law is a pre-condition for the development and modernization of the country. It will be a collective work or it will not be done," he concludes.
This appeal by Maurice Kamto comes in a Cameroonian political context marked by tensions and questions about respect for democratic principles and the rule of law. In April 2026, Kamto denounced to the African Union a "constitutional coup" relating to a constitutional revision and called for sanctions. He had already challenged the legitimacy of the current institutions, accusing the government of manipulating the electoral calendar.
