The legal argument is based on Article 118 of Cameroon’s Electoral Code, which renders ineligible any individual who has placed themselves in a situation of dependence or collusion with a person, organisation, or foreign power. The petition alleges that Tchiroma’s personal relationship with Ambazonian leaders places him in violation of this provision.
By The Independentist Political Desk
A legal memorandum in Yaoundé seeking to disqualify a presidential candidate has unexpectedly highlighted contradictions in Cameroon’s approach to Ambazonia’s status.
A legal memorandum filed in Yaoundé has described Ambazonia as a foreign power, raising new questions about the Cameroonian government’s legal stance toward the territory. The document, authored by Barrister Emmanuel Nsahlai, seeks to disqualify veteran politician Issa Tchiroma from contesting the 2025 presidential election.
The legal argument is based on Article 118 of Cameroon’s Electoral Code, which renders ineligible any individual who has placed themselves in a situation of dependence or collusion with a person, organisation, or foreign power. The petition alleges that Tchiroma’s personal relationship with Ambazonian leaders places him in violation of this provision.
During a rally in Bamenda on 4 October 2025, Tchiroma acknowledged maintaining regular contact with Ambazonian figures, referred to Chris Anu as his “best friend,” and admitted that he relied on Ambazonian protection during his visit. These remarks are now central to the legal effort to remove him from the race.
Ambazonian Interpretation
Ambazonian advocates have seized on the wording of the memorandum as evidence of implicit recognition of Ambazonia’s separate status. They argue that referring to Ambazonia as a foreign power undermines the state’s longstanding claim that Ambazonia is simply a rebellious region within its territory.
“You cannot simultaneously call Ambazonia a foreign power and accuse its people of secession,” said one Ambazonian legal analyst. “The memorandum itself reveals that the Cameroonian state treats Ambazonia as external when convenient, even though it denies this politically.”
Cameroonian Legal Perspective
Legal experts in Yaoundé interpret the use of the term differently. They argue that “foreign power” in Article 118 is a standard legal expression referring to any external entity operating outside state control, and does not imply diplomatic recognition of Ambazonia as a sovereign state.
According to this view, the wording is strategic, designed to fit the legal requirements of Article 118, rather than a shift in Cameroon’s political position. The state continues to regard Ambazonian movements as illegal foreign-based organisations, not as a recognised state.
Political Implications
The legal strategy may have broader consequences than intended. Several other presidential contenders have previously campaigned in Ambazonian territory. If the same reasoning is applied consistently, multiple candidates could face disqualification, forcing electoral bodies to clarify how Article 118 applies in practice.
This case illustrates a long-standing contradiction. Politically, Yaoundé maintains that Cameroon is one and indivisible. Legally, however, it often treats Ambazonia as foreign when convenient for political or prosecutorial purposes. This duality has now been exposed in the context of a high-stakes presidential election.
A Moment of Legal Ambiguity
Whether seen as a tactical legal move or an inadvertent admission, the memorandum highlights unresolved tensions at the heart of Cameroon’s territorial claims. For Ambazonians, it represents legal validation of their position. For Yaoundé, it may be a useful legal device with unintended diplomatic consequences.
For external observers, this development underscores that the conflict is not solely political or military. It is rooted in unresolved legal foundations dating back to the end of the British trusteeship in 1961. How Cameroonian authorities manage this contradiction in the months ahead could shape both the presidential election and international perceptions of the conflict.
The Independentist Political Desk
