Cameroon’s MRC elects Tiriane Balbine Noah as first female party president
Cameroon's main opposition party, the MRC, elected Tiriane Balbine Noah as its first female president on October 17, 2026. She replaces Maurice Kamto, who led the party for 14 years before resigning. Noah won with over 96% of the vote and aims to lead the party into the 2027 local elections amid ongoing political challenges.
Brève Publié le (Africa/Lagos, UTC+1) · date de l'événement : 2026-10-17
Cameroon’s main opposition party, the Mouvement pour la Renaissance du Cameroun (MRC), elected Tiriane Balbine Noah as its first female president on October 17, 2026. She replaces Maurice Kamto, who resigned after 14 years at the helm.
The extraordinary elective congress took place in Yaoundé despite pressure from authorities to ban the meeting. Around 1,200 delegates gathered to vote, with Noah running unopposed after her challenger withdrew. She secured more than 96% of the vote for a renewable five-year term.
Noah, previously the party’s Second Vice-President and interim leader, paid tribute to activists who have suffered for the party’s cause. The MRC has faced persecution and restrictions since its inception, but the congress was authorized to proceed this time.
Following Kamto’s and his deputy’s resignations amid suspicions of government attempts to dismantle the party, Noah’s leadership marks a new chapter. The MRC now focuses on preparing for the 2027 local elections, seeking to strengthen its political presence in Cameroon.