A statement by Chris Maneng of the FSNC, on a missed alliance between politicians Issa Tchiroma Bakary and Maurice Kamto during the presidential election of October 12, 2025, is causing strong reactions within the MRC.
The Front for the National Salvation of Cameroon (FSNC) and the Movement for the Renaissance of Cameroon (MRC) through their representatives are assessing the failure of the opposition in the October 2025 presidential election. For several hours, statements have been succeeding one another, especially from the MRC camp, in an attempt to re-establish a certain truth following the remarks made by an associate of Issa Tchiroma Bakary during a media appearance. Everything suggests an explanation of what the leaders of the MRC, FSNC, and UNDP lacked to defeat the ruling party at the end of the October 12, 2025 election.
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Indeed, as a guest on a show hosted by Mimi Mefo, Chris Maneng, Issa Tchiroma Bakary’s strategist during the presidential election, made revelations about behind-the-scenes negotiations that took place between the FSNC and the MRC in the run-up to the election. According to him, in anticipation of a strong opposition alliance to overthrow the regime, FSNC officials approached Maurice Kamto, leader of the MRC, and “offered him almost everything to support Issa Tchiroma Bakary.”
However, the candidate who came in 2nd in the 2018 presidential election and already enjoyed a certain popularity did not yield to the offers. He refrained from speaking out at a time when candidate Tchiroma was mobilizing the electorate. Yet, according to Chris Maneng, if he had spoken out, “it would have made a huge difference.” However, “it seems Kamto had already decided to align with Bello Bouba,” the national president of the UNDP, who was also a candidate in the election and one of the most experienced political leaders in Cameroon.
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These remarks are provoking reactions from the MRC. Dr. Boutche, a party official, refuses to let the FSNC attribute the opposition’s failure to Maurice Kamto. According to him, the party president “respected the resolution of the MRC National Council which required at least the coalition of the two leaders from the great north (Tchiroma and Bello Bouba) (…) One cannot blame Kamto for having respected the National Council’s resolution point by point,” he explains, refusing for the FSNC to label his leader a “traitor.”
His party colleague, Mamadou Mota, also vice-president of the MRC, states that Cris Maneng is engaging in “sterile controversy.” He uses Maurice Kamto’s name to gain some visibility on the political scene. According to him, the MRC gave clear strategic directions to its militants without ever having “official high-level discussions.” Moreover, “you were not one of those with whom the MRC was discussing,” says Mamadou Mota, attempting to reason with the FSNC’s strategy director, Chris Maneng. This nonetheless helps the public understand the existing rift between opposition parties in Cameroon.
