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Yaoundé (AFP) – Two parties of the Cameroonian opposition have decided Friday to form a coalition to participate in the presidential elections this weekend, said a spokesman, in an attempt to dislodge President Paul Biya, president Council composed of six members.
This announcement confirms the rumors of an opposition maneuver aimed at defeating Biya, 85, in Sunday's polls, but the new union will not include Joshua Osih, hope of the Social Front. -democrat, main opponent.
Akere Muna, leader of the People's Development Front (FDP), agreed to "withdraw his candidacy … and support Maurice Kamto", head of the Movement for the Renaissance of Cameroon (MRC), said the spokesman of the Muna in a statement.
Earlier Friday, Kamto's party had claimed that a "massive fraud" was under way to secure the president's seventh term of office.
Maurice Kamto's campaign leader, Paul-Eric Kingue, said the efforts to rig Sunday's poll "were blessed" by the electoral commission.
"We will not accept any results if this type of fraud continues," he said at a press conference organized by the MRC of Kamto in Yaounde.
The Cameroonian authorities have long been accused of unfairly favoring Biya, one of Africa's oldest leaders, who won 78% of votes in the 2011 polls, described as "flawed" by observers and the opposition.
– & # 39; Attempt to sow chaos & # 39; –
Cameroon will vote under strict security conditions, including a ban on domestic road, rail and air travel from 17:00 GMT Saturday until the end of the vote.
The borders of the Central African nation of 25 million inhabitants will also be sealed 48 hours before polling day, according to an AFP decree.
The Kamto MRC asserted that voter cards had been falsified and that voter registration had continued despite the formal closure of the process.
"In 62% of the regions, the party (in power) of the Cameroon People's Democratic Movement is still adding names to the voters list," Kingue said.
"We are not preparing for war, but wherever there is fraud, there will be a firm response."
Communication Minister Issa Tchiroma Bakary said in a statement that "measures have been taken to prevent any action that could create violence or disorder around the elections".
He added that "political figures linked to foreign interests were preparing groups of agitators to fan the violence in case the results did not go as planned".
The minister did not say who he was referring to.
"In trying to sow chaos, they may be unpleasantly surprised," he said. The authorities "will not tolerate any disorder before, during or after the presidential vote," he added.
Biya has been in power for 35 years and faces seven opposition candidates following Muna's withdrawal.
Opposition leaders are Osih and Kamto.
