Kamto’s campaign promise sparks backlash from government ministers
By Synthia Lateu
Some Cameroonian government ministers have openly mocked Professor Maurice Kamto’s recent pledge to grant amnesty to President Paul Biya and his family if elected president. The promise was made during a political rally organized by the Cameroon Renaissance Movement (CRM) in France on May 31. The event brought together members of the Cameroonian diaspora from across Europe and beyond, with the aim of mobilizing support ahead of upcoming elections.
One of the critics was Minister Delegate Jean de Dieu Momo, a former opposition figure turned government official. Using his social media alias “Nfo’o Dzakeutonpougtonpoug1er”. Momo ridiculed Kamto’s statements, calling the rally a platform for “deceptive promises.”
“Honestly, I laughed when I heard he pledged to protect President Paul Biya and his family! It reminded me that I made the same promise when I was a candidate in the 2011 presidential election,” Momo wrote.
He went further to describe such promises as “a veiled way of telling the person in power not to fear retaliation and to hand over power in exchange for protection.”
“Looking back, I recognize that this is a childish and ridiculous request in politics. Does anyone hand over power to their opponent? He’d better hand it to Franck if it’s just about personal safety!” The former opposition candidate furthered.
Grégoire Owona, Minister of Labour and Social Security, also weighed in via social media. He labeled the amnesty promise as “pathetic.”
“What kind of protection do they need? Are they in danger, or will they be? Which family are we even talking about?” Owona asked.
“Cameroon is not in danger! Cameroon will not fall! Cameroon is standing tall and moving forward toward better days,” he proclaimed.
Owona went on to question the credibility of the event’s reported turnout.
“Not even five thousand people showed up. Fortunately, Parisians were gathering that same afternoon to watch the Champions League final in nearby bars and snack joints, where we spent hours in total peace. More football fans than potential voters,” he mocked.
In response to the criticism, renowned author Calixthe Beyala defended Kamto’s rally, pointing out the harsh political climate in Cameroon that forces opposition leaders to hold such events abroad while commenting on the debate surrounding why the meeting was held in France,
“In Cameroon, opposition members are arrested and thrown into prison as soon as they try to organize. We’re fed nonsense like ‘disturbance of public order’ to maintain the status quo,” she argued.
Beyala emphasized that the Cameroonian and broader African diaspora have long worked together to defend the continent’s interests.
“Mobilizing even just five thousand people in France is a remarkable feat, because no one pays anyone’s transport—people come out of pure conviction, using their own money,” she concluded.
The debate following Kamto’s rally continues to stir discussions about political freedom, diaspora engagement, and the future of leadership in Cameroon
