Opposition leader Maurice Kamto slams Cameroon’s latest municipal term extension as unconstitutional
Maurice Kamto, leader of Cameroon’s Movement for the Renaissance of Cameroon (MRC), has formally referred the recent extension of municipal council terms to the Constitutional Council, alleging a clear breach of constitutional and democratic principles. The move follows a May 4, 2026 presidential decree that indefinitely extended the mandates of local elected officials, prompting sharp criticism from the opposition.
The decree, Kamto argues, unlawfully overstepped executive authority by encroaching on legislative powers. He points to the modification of the electoral code, which removed the 18-month cap on term extensions—a provision previously enshrined in Article 170. The new law, signed on April 14, 2026, allegedly lacks retroactive clauses, yet was applied retroactively to extend terms until February 27, 2026, despite the original mandate’s scheduled end on August 9, 2026.
Central to Kamto’s legal challenge is the principle of non-retroactivity, a cornerstone of Cameroon’s constitutional framework. He contends that the decree violates this principle by applying new legal provisions to past actions, effectively undermining the rule of law. As a constitutional law scholar, Kamto is unequivocal in his assessment: “From June 1, 2026, municipal councils across Cameroon are legally vacant. Local executives must acknowledge this vacancy and act accordingly under the law,” he asserts.
The opposition leader demands the Constitutional Council compel the president to organize fresh municipal elections, citing institutional dysfunction caused by the decree. However, questions linger over the Council’s willingness to intervene, given its history of dismissing similar petitions on procedural grounds.
