2025 Presidential Elections in Cameroon: summary timeline and campaign rules/regulations
Campaigns for the 2025 presidential election in Cameroon will officially begin on September 27, 2025, and end at midnight on October 11, 2025, just one day before the vote on October 12.
Key Dates and Activities
July 11, 2025: Convening of the electorate for the election of the President of the Republic slated on October 12, 2025.(https://portail.elecam.cm/service/july-11-2025-convening-of-the-electorate-for-the-election-of-the-president-of-the-republic-slated-on-october-12-2025/)
August 13, 2025 Final list of 12 candidates confirmed by the Constitutional Council (https://portail.elecam.cm/service/presidentielle-2025-les-candidats-sont-connus/)
September 27, 2025 Official campaign period begins
October 11, 2025 Campaign period ends at midnight
October 12, 2025 Nationwide voting day
Some Campaign Regulations (visit the electoral code for info)
- Candidates must notify ELECAM and local authorities before holding rallies. Article 93(3) of the electoral code states that, In the absence of a meeting schedule, any public meeting organized as part of the election campaign must be declared with the Administrative Authorities and the branches of Elections Cameroon at least 24 (twenty-four) hours in advance, indicating the time and venue of the meeting.
- Campaign materials must be approved and must not incite violence or threaten national unity. SECTION 89: (1) of the electoral code, Such circulars, manifestoes and posters signed by the representative of the list, candidate or political party shall be submitted in duplicate to Elections Cameroon for prior endorsement. (2) A copy of such circular, manifesto and poster shall be filed and the other copy, carrying the endorsement, shall be handed back to the candidate or to the representative of the candidate, list or political party. The printed document shall make mention of the endorsement. (3) The endorsement shall be withheld where a document is tantamount to a call to violence or undermines national territorial integrity, the Republican form of the State, State sovereignty, national unity or incites hatred against a State official or a citizen or a body of citizens. (4) The endorsement shall indicate the colour and initials assigned to each candidate or political party.
- SECTION 90: Any document published and circulated in contravention of the provisions of Sections 87, 88 and 89 shall, at the instance of Elections Cameroon, be seized by the Administrative Authorities without prejudice to such criminal prosecution as may be instituted against the authors of such documents and the disseminators thereof.
- Posters can only be displayed in authorized public spaces. Section 91 (2) No public display of posters in relation to the election, albeit stamped, shall be allowed outside the authorized spaces, whether by candidates or by any other person or group.
- No campaign material may be distributed on polling day.
Berinyuy Cajetan is the founder and publisher of Human Rights and Legal Research Centre (HRLRC) since 2017. He has intensive experience in strategic communications for Civil Society Organizations, campaign and advocacy, and social issues. He has an intensive experiencing in human rights monitoring, documentation and reporting.
