The Cameroon Renaissance Movement (CRM) has made its position clear ahead of the October 12 presidential election: it will not endorse any candidate unless a formal coalition is forged between political heavyweights Bello Bouba Maigari and Issa Tchiroma Bakary.
The announcement came in a strongly worded statement signed by Acting National President Mamadou Mota and addressed to CRM activists and supporters. Mota explained that the party had carefully assessed the political environment and concluded that without a clear and structured alliance between the two leaders, mobilizing CRM’s grassroots base would amount to “leading activists down an uncertain path.”
“The CRM will not issue any voting instructions unless there is a formal and effective coalition between Bello Bouba and Issa Tchiroma,” Mota declared. “Our loyalty is to the people, not to expedient alliances lacking a solid foundation.”
Referencing Karl Marx and Immanuel Kant, Mota framed the CRM’s stance as a matter of principle, not convenience. He said the movement was committed to genuine transformation of Cameroon’s political system, not simply aligning with traditional power blocs.
“We are not here to merely interpret transient positions or the inflated egos of two leaders,” Mota noted. “We are here to strive for lasting transformation.”
The CRM, founded by imprisoned opposition leader Maurice Kamto, has been one of the most vocal critics of President Paul Biya’s decades-long rule. Its decision not to issue blanket voting instructions unless a coalition emerges could prove pivotal, as the party commands significant support in urban areas and among Cameroon’s youth.
Mota warned that improvisation and rushed deals have historically ended in political disappointment, stressing that the CRM would deploy its resources only where it sees a credible strategy for change.
“Our fate is in our hands,” he said, “and we must act judiciously and responsibly.”
Political observers say the move could either pressure Bello Bouba and Tchiroma to speed up coalition talks or risk further splintering the opposition vote. With just weeks left before the polls, the CRM’s stance injects fresh uncertainty into a race already shaped by shifting alliances and complex regional calculations.
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