We are moving towards an extension of the mandate of deputies and municipal councilors in Cameroon. This is what was suggested by the consultation, on Friday, July 6, of the bureau of the National Assembly on this subject, by President Paul Biya. The bureau responded favorably and the extension should cover a period of twelve months.
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The final decision, to be taken by President Paul Biya, must be made before the end of the current parliamentary session, which must close no later than Wednesday, June 10.
The scenario was expected by the entire political class. While the parliamentary session opened at the beginning of June is soon to end, the deputies and municipal councilors, while waiting for the formalization of the decision in the coming days, now know what to expect. Their respective mandates will be extended by at least twelve months.
The immediate consequence of this extension is the reversal of the electoral calendar between the local, legislative and municipal elections which were to be held in March 2025, followed by the presidential election scheduled for October of the same year.
This reversal of the calendar was feared by some political actors in the ranks of the opposition. It could potentially be detrimental to Maurice Kamto, of the Movement for the Renaissance of Cameroon (MRC)This party had boycotted the previous elections, in 2020, and therefore does not have any elected representatives to date, which is an almost essential condition with a view to running in the presidential election.
For some analysts, this extension is part of political maneuvering, with the aim of removing certain opponents from the race for the 2025 presidential election.
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