MINAT: Invalide Résolutions MRC 2025 Convention, Citing Law 90/055

• The Ministry of Territorial Administration (MINAT) refused to validate resolutions from the Mouvement pour la renaissance du Cameroun (MRC)'s extraordinary convention held on December 21, 2025.
• This decision, communicated on August 19, 2026, to founding member Thierry Joseph Okala Ebode, questions Maurice Kamto's potential restoration as MRC president.
• The MINAT cited Article 3, paragraph 2, of Law n° 90/055 of December 19, 1990, which requires a prior declaration to the sub-prefect for public meetings, as the legal basis for its action.
• The refusal exacerbates existing internal divisions within the MRC and comes amidst an ongoing court case regarding Thierry Okala Ebode's exclusion from the party.
• This incident highlights the critical importance for political associations in Cameroon to strictly adhere to procedural requirements for public gatherings to avoid administrative invalidation of key decisions.

Lawyers advising such entities must be acutely aware of the rigorous requirements stipulated under Law n° 90/055 of 1990, particularly concerning the prior declaration of public meetings and conventions.

The Ministry of Territorial Administration (MINAT), led by Minister Paul Atanga Nji, has declined to validate the resolutions stemming from the Mouvement pour la renaissance du Cameroun (MRC)'s extraordinary convention held on December 21, 2025. This significant administrative decision, communicated in a letter dated August 19, 2026, directly challenges the internal governance of the political party and casts doubt on the potential restoration of Maurice Kamto to the MRC presidency. The MINAT's correspondence, addressed to Thierry Joseph Okala Ebode, a founding member of the party, explicitly stated that the ministry "did not deem it appropriate to take note of the work of the extraordinary Convention of the MRC of December 21, 2025."

This refusal by the MINAT to acknowledge the outcomes of the MRC's 2025 convention surfaces amidst existing internal turmoil within the party. Thierry Joseph Okala Ebode, who was declared excluded by the MRC on November 7, 2025, and identified as a member of its steering committee, is currently embroiled in a legal battle contesting his removal. The MINAT's intervention, therefore, adds another layer of complexity to the party's challenges, highlighting what some perceive as a critical vulnerability in its operational procedures.

While the MINAT's letter did not provide a detailed explanation for its decision, it pointed to a specific legal foundation: Article 3 of Law n° 90/055 of December 19, 1990. This legislation governs the regime of public meetings and demonstrations in Cameroon, establishing the procedural requirements for such gatherings. More precisely, the minister invoked Article 3, paragraph 2, of this 1990 law, which mandates that all public meetings must be preceded by a prior declaration submitted to the sub-prefect of the relevant administrative territory.

This legal reference suggests that the MINAT's refusal to validate the resolutions of the MRC's December 2025 convention might stem from a perceived non-compliance with these mandatory declaration procedures. The `droit associations Cameroun` framework, particularly as it pertains to political parties, places a strong emphasis on adherence to such administrative formalities. The lack of explicit detail in the MINAT's communication leaves the precise nature of the alleged procedural lapse open to interpretation, yet the invocation of this specific article underscores the importance of regulatory observance for any public assembly, including party conventions.

The MINAT's decision to `invalide résolutions MRC 2025` represents a significant setback for the Mouvement pour la renaissance du Cameroun, exacerbating existing internal divisions among its militants and cadres. This administrative challenge comes at a time when the party is already grappling with the `contestation convention MRC Cameroun` surrounding the exclusion of Thierry Okala Ebode, whose case is currently before the courts. The intervention by Minister Paul Atanga Nji, therefore, exposes a critical operational flaw that further destabilizes the party's leadership and decision-making processes.

By refusing to take note of the convention's proceedings, the MINAT effectively questions the legitimacy of any decisions made during that assembly, including those pertaining to the party's leadership. This situation underscores the vulnerability of political organizations to administrative oversight, particularly when procedural requirements are not meticulously followed. For the MRC, this development not only complicates its internal affairs but also projects an image of internal disarray, potentially impacting its public standing and future political activities.

This incident serves as a stark reminder for political parties and associations in Cameroon regarding the critical importance of strict compliance with national laws governing public gatherings. Lawyers advising such entities must be acutely aware of the rigorous requirements stipulated under Law n° 90/055 of 1990, particularly concerning the prior declaration of public meetings and conventions. Non-adherence to these procedural declarations, as highlighted by the MINAT's action against the `Mouvement pour la renaissance du Cameroun`, can lead directly to the invalidation of key decisions and resolutions by the Ministry of Territorial Administration.

The case of the MRC's December 2025 convention underscores that meticulous adherence to administrative formalities is not merely a bureaucratic hurdle but a fundamental aspect of maintaining legal standing and avoiding state intervention. This situation emphasizes the necessity for political organizations to ensure that every aspect of their internal governance, especially public assemblies, aligns perfectly with the `loi n° 90/055 19 décembre 1990`. Failure to do so can result in significant challenges to internal party governance and the legitimacy of its leadership, as demonstrated by the current predicament facing the MRC.

Lawyers advising political parties or associations in Cameroon must be acutely aware of the strict compliance requirements under Law n° 90/055 of 1990 regarding public meetings and conventions, as non-adherence can lead to the invalidation of key decisions by the Ministry of Territorial Administration. This case highlights the importance of meticulously following procedural declarations to avoid state intervention and challenges to internal party governance.

Source: Original reporting via DR