2025 presidentials: Kamto sneezes in Paris, Biya regime catches cold in Yaounde.

In separate reactions, Owona and Momo are unsettled about the attendance at the Paris rally. 

They also expressed misgivings at Kamto’s promise at the meeting that if voted into office in the October presidential poll, he will guarantee the security of President Paul Biya and his family.

The first between the two ministers to fire at Kamto was Owona.  He described the meeting as “miserable” and beyond what was mediatised for several months “to reunite millions of Cameroonians in the Diaspora”.

The labour minister stated that the venue of the meeting, Place de la République, did not register the massive attendance promised by Kamto and his allies.

Owona claimed those in attendance were not even in thousands, adding that most residents of Paris rather spent the day preparing to watch the final of the Champions League that was played same day. 

People in Paris, he argued, used the day to relax in snack bars, enjoying their peace and not caring about Kamto’s rally. He further mocked the meeting as having had in attendance more football fans than potential voters.

The pledge to protect Biya and his family, Minister Owona asserted, is “deplorable”. Questioning what security, the Head of State and his family need, he further asked: “Are they or will they be in danger? Which family are we talking about?”

He then said Cameroon is not in any danger as some claim, asserting that the country is on the right path. 

He also faulted Kamto for promising dual and multinational citizenship to the country’s Diaspora. The labour minister said compatriots in the Diaspora are merely waiting for dual nationality to be approved.

“I’ve been laughing non-stop”

For Minister Jean De Dieu Momo, who was first in the opposition before reclining to be a Biya supporter, Kamto’s declarations have sent him into unending laughter.

Minister Momo stated in a social media post that: “Honestly, I have since been laughing non-stop when I learned that he is committed to ‘protecting the President Paul Biya and his family!’”.

The declaration, he noted, reminded him of 2011 when he was a presidential candidate. Momo said then, he too had made such a promise to the Head of State.

He interpreted Kamto’s pledged to be a “disguised way of telling the one in power not to fear” and hand over power for their protection.

The Minister Delegate said, he understands “…with hindsight that this is a childish and ridiculous request in politics! Do you give power to your opponent? Better give it to Franck, if it's only a matter of personal security!”.

He further berated Kamto for choosing to use a white as bodyguard during the rally. Momo said the choice shows Kamto has inferiority complex. He averred that it would be a joke to have someone like Kamto as Head of State.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3463 of Tuesday June 03, 2025