Cameroon’s CPDM in Legal Crisis Ahead of 2025 Election: Biya’s Expired Mandate

This unprecedented scenario threatens to plunge the party—and potentially the nation—into a constitutional and political crisis.

The Legal Framework and Its Implications

According to the CPDM’s statutes:

1. Mandate and Renewal: Article 18 states that the party’s congress, which elects the National President, must be held every five years. In 2016, the CPDM’s Political Bureau extended the deadline for the congress until November 2021. However, no congress has been convened since 2011.

2. Expiration of Biya’s Mandate: By failing to hold a congress in November 2021 or extend its timeline, Paul Biya’s mandate as National President legally ended. The statutes do not provide a provision for the President to remain in office indefinitely pending the election of a successor, making Biya’s continuation as de facto President of the CPDM without legal basis.

3. Implications for Candidate Nomination: Article 27 (4-2°) specifies that the National President is the CPDM’s automatic candidate for the presidency. Without a National President in office, the CPDM is technically unable to nominate a candidate for the 2025 election.

Barriers to Resolving the Crisis

The CPDM statutes allow for extraordinary measures in certain circumstances, but each path appears fraught with legal and procedural obstacles:

1. Convocation of an Extraordinary Congress:

   • Article 22 provides that an extraordinary congress may be convened by the Political Bureau’s elder statesman if two-thirds of its members agree. However, this threshold is nearly impossible to meet due to:
     • Deaths and Ineligibilities: Nine of the 23 Bureau members are deceased or unavailable (e.g., Marafa Hamidou Yaya, imprisoned).
     • Non-replaceable Members: Paul Biya, now without a valid mandate, cannot appoint new members to fill the quorum.

2. Legal Challenges from Opposing Parties:

   • Any candidate presented by the CPDM in 2025 could face legal challenges from opponents, arguing that the party’s nomination process violates its statutes. This would create a judicial quagmire, potentially invalidating the CPDM’s candidate during or after the election.

The Broader Political Implications

The CPDM’s predicament exposes significant vulnerabilities within Cameroon’s political and legal systems:

1. Democratic Erosion: The failure to adhere to statutory timelines reflects a broader pattern of governance by procedural shortcuts, undermining the credibility of the party and the electoral process.

2. Institutional Fragility: The crisis demonstrates the over-centralization of power within the CPDM, where Biya’s long tenure has led to institutional inertia. Without mechanisms for timely leadership transitions, the party is now caught in a self-inflicted trap.

3. National Stability: In a country already grappling with socio-political unrest, including the Anglophone crisis, the CPDM’s inability to present a legitimate candidate could exacerbate tensions and further erode public trust in the political system.

What Lies Ahead?

The CPDM faces an uphill battle to resolve this crisis before the 2025 election:

1. Holding a Congress: Convening a congress remains the most legally sound solution but requires overcoming significant logistical and quorum challenges. This would likely necessitate legal maneuvers or party statute amendments, which may face opposition or delay.

2. Amending Party Statutes: The CPDM could seek to amend its statutes to retroactively validate Biya’s tenure or create a legal pathway for candidate nomination. However, this approach would likely be seen as a manipulation of party rules, drawing public and political backlash.

3. Nomination of an Alternate Candidate: If Biya is unable to run, the party must find a successor quickly. However, any new nominee would face challenges in uniting the party and defending their candidacy against legal challenges.

4. External Political Pressure: Opposition parties, aware of the CPDM’s vulnerability, are likely to amplify calls for legal accountability, further complicating the party’s efforts to navigate this crisis.

Conclusion: A Self-Inflicted Dilemma

The CPDM’s failure to hold a congress within statutory timelines reflects a broader governance issue rooted in over-reliance on Paul Biya’s leadership and a lack of institutional foresight. By neglecting its own rules, the party now faces an existential crisis that threatens its ability to participate in the 2025 presidential election.

Whether through legal reforms, internal restructuring, or an extraordinary congress, the CPDM must act swiftly to restore its legitimacy and address the leadership vacuum. However, the party’s handling of this crisis will not only determine its future but also serve as a critical test for Cameroon’s democratic institutions.