CMR2025: Muna vows to make justice, equality cornerstones of his presidency
By Wilson Musa
YAOUNDÉ, Cameroon – Presidential candidate Akere Muna has outlined a clear vision for his potential leadership, pledging to build a government fundamentally centered on principles of justice, equality, and respect for rights. In a recent statement shared on his Facebook page, Muna detailed the core tenets of his prospective administration should he be elected in the upcoming October polls.
“I pledge, if you grant me your trust, to make justice the cornerstone of our actions,” Muna wrote. He promised a “fair, transparent, and accessible justice system for all, without distinction,” specifically aimed at protecting the vulnerable and ensuring dignity for every citizen.
Beyond justice, Muna committed to placing “equality at the heart of our project.” He vowed to tirelessly work to dismantle societal barriers, provide equal opportunities for all, and enable every Cameroonian to reach their full potential.
Finally, the candidate underscored his dedication to “respect for the rights of all” as a daily commitment. Muna stated that his presidency would ensure every voice is heard, every person is respected, and every community is valued, emphasizing this as the path to “lasting peace and a shared future.”
In 2018, Barrister Akere Muna but later threw his weight behind CRM president Maurice Kamto. However, the electoral commission said it was too late to include this in their ballot system.
In 2018, he pledged to address the Anglophone crisis within his first 100 days in office. This involved creating conditions for refugees to return, rebuilding and reorienting displaced populations, and integrating fighters into the army after they surrendered their weapons. He emphasized dialogue and addressing the marginalization of English-speaking Cameroonians.
As an international transparency individual who upholds the rule of law and justice, the founder of Now Movement, said there will be “zero tolerance for corruption,” asserting the need to build robust structures to combat systemic corruption and ensure it is not used as a political weapon. He also mentioned implementing e-procurement systems.
He proposed scrapping the Senate and replacing it with an economic and social council composed of experts (architects, lawyers, engineers). He also critiqued the existing “monarchy system” where the president holds significant control over judicial appointments and the electoral process.
Barrister Muna spoke about developing an “African platform” to repatriate stolen funds and stop illicit financial flows.
The legal mind has not only been battling to remove Biya from power, but also to make clear that he should not be seen as an image of the father, Solomon Muna(RIP), who was one of the political architects of the former Southern Cameroons. Critics hold that Muna was close to power in Yaounde, making the English-speaking parts yearn for change. He served as Prime Minister of the federated West Cameroon state and the second Vice President of Cameroon between 1970-72.
Is Akere right, and can he do it?
While Cameroon has a dual legal system (French civil law and English common law), concerns about the impartiality, transparency, and accessibility of justice have been in the news. Reports from human rights organizations often cite issues like arbitrary detention, denial of fair public trials, and human rights violations by security forces during investigations and trials. The Ministry of Justice has supervisory authority, and the President has formal power of judicial appointment, which can raise questions about judicial independence.
Issues of equality persist in Cameroon, particularly concerning gender. Women face challenges in access to education, employment, and political representation. There are also disparities in health outcomes and high rates of domestic violence. While the government has strategies for gender equality, significant gaps remain. More broadly, socio-economic inequalities exist, with poverty remaining a major challenge, especially in rural areas.
Human rights organizations consistently report on violations of fundamental rights in Cameroon. These include restrictions on freedom of expression, association, and assembly, arbitrary arrests, detentions, and allegations of torture and extrajudicial killings. The ongoing conflicts in the Anglophone regions and the Far North have exacerbated these issues, with both state and non-state actors accused of abuses.
Also, corruption is widely recognized as a pervasive issue in Cameroon, affecting all sectors of government and civil society. Transparency International consistently ranks Cameroon poorly on its Corruption Perceptions Index. Reports indicate significant financial losses due to corruption annually, and there are concerns about impunity for corrupt officials, limited civic space, and restricted access to justice. The issue is often linked to a perceived lack of political will to tackle it effectively, and challenges with accountability systems
There is a very real and severe ongoing conflict. What began as peaceful protests in late 2016 against perceived marginalization of English-speaking regions and the imposition of Francophone legal and educational systems escalated into an armed conflict. It has led to widespread human rights abuses, massive internal displacement, and numerous casualties. Despite government efforts like granting “special status” to the Anglophone regions, many feel that their grievances have not been adequately addressed, and violence persists.
What new thing can Akere bring to the table that has not been discussed?
Akere Muna’s proposals, particularly those from his 2018 campaign that align with his recent messaging, suggest several distinct approaches and priorities compared to what has typically been emphasized or implemented by Paul Biya’s administration.
- Explicit, Systemic Justice Reform: While the current administration speaks of maintaining the rule of law, Akere Muna’s pledges go further, promising to make justice “fair, transparent, and accessible for all, without distinction,” with a specific emphasis on “protecting the most vulnerable.” This suggests a commitment to a deep overhaul of the judicial system beyond general statements about upholding order.
- Proactive and Time-Bound Anglophone Crisis Resolution: In 2018, Akere Muna famously pledged to resolve the Anglophone crisis within his first 100 days, outlining specific steps like creating conditions for refugee return and integrating fighters. While President Biya’s government has pursued dialogue and granted “special status” to the Anglophone regions, the crisis remains ongoing, and Muna’s proposed urgency and detailed early steps represent a more direct and time-constrained approach.
- Fundamental Constitutional and Electoral Reform: Akere Muna’s 2018 proposals to potentially scrap the Senate and reformulate it into an economic and social council, along with criticisms of the president’s control over judicial appointments and the electoral process, point to a desire for more profound structural changes to governance. This contrasts with the ruling party’s emphasis on respecting existing electoral laws and the established republican order.
- Aggressive Stance on Corruption and Illicit Financial Flows: While fighting corruption is a stated goal of all governments, Muna’s “zero tolerance” approach combined with specific ideas like e-procurement and establishing an “African platform to bring back stolen money” suggests a potentially more robust and transparent mechanism for combating corruption and retrieving national assets, rather than just ongoing anti-graft efforts.
- Emphasis on Equality and Inclusive Governance: Muna’s recent pledge to “break down the barriers that divide our society” and offer “equal opportunities to all,” coupled with ensuring “every voice is heard, every person respected, and every community valued,” highlights a focus on social and economic equality, and a more participatory model of governance. This could differentiate from a more centralized approach often associated with long-standing incumbents.
But these things are not new, Paul Biya has pronounced these words in most of his State televised speeches, but Cameroonians have never seen the implementation. Even the decentralisation promised has only been on paper, as the institution of Special Status is being checked with the appointment of Independent Conciliators, criticised by politicians as selling a goat and keeping the rope.
Akere Muna will likely lead the UNIVERSE political party which is supported by the political parties NGOs and civila society organisations.
