Nairobi: There was a significant surprise when Cameroon’s electoral commission announced the 12 candidates for the upcoming October 12 presidential election. Among the contenders for the country’s highest office is a woman, marking only the third time in Cameroon’s political history that a female candidate is running for president.

According to Deutsche Welle, Tomaino Hermine Patricia Ndam Njoya’s candidacy is notable, as the initial list included over 80 candidates. In contrast, Kah Walla, who became Cameroon’s first female presidential candidate in 2011, and Esther Dang, who also ran that year, did not succeed against the long-standing President Paul Biya. However, the landscape seems more favorable now for a female president due to the increasing presence of women in African politics.

Ndam Njoya brings experience to her campaign, serving as the mayor of Foumban and chairwoman of the Democratic Union for Cameroon (UDC). Her campaign slogan, “Freedom. Justice. Progress,” reflects her vision for the nation. She has described Cameroon as being at a “crossroads,” emphasizing the need for the sovereign people to lead the nation into a new era, moving away from decades of chaotic governance.

Despite skepticism about her chances, Ndam Njoya remains determined to campaign vigorously across the country and on social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. She faces criticism from male competitors, who dismiss her as merely “the wife of her late husband.” In 2021, she succeeded her husband, Adamou Ndam Njoya, as the UDC chair. Her husband was a prominent opposition figure and former Minister of Education who unsuccessfully ran for president against Paul Biya in past elections.

Ndam Njoya is also targeting the Cameroonian diaspora for support, visiting communities in Germany, Italy, and France. There, she engaged with notable figures like Joy Alemazung, mayor of Heubach, and SPD politician Steve Kommogne. Her European tour included speaking at the World Brotherhood meeting in Rome, where she addressed the need for peace and solidarity, and outlined plans for better neighborly relations in Gabon.

Her parliamentary work includes participation in the Forum of Women in Africa and Spain for a Better World and the African Parliamentary Union. Her decision to focus on her country’s future rather than pursuing an international career has garnered support from other opposition politicians.

Ndam Njoya has also received endorsements from a dozen former presidential candidates, including Shewa David Damuel of the Patriotic Movement for a New Cameroon (MPCN). These endorsements reflect a growing unity among the opposition, which views Ndam Njoya as a potential catalyst for change.

With aspirations to unite Cameroon as a federal state, resolve the Anglophone crisis, combat youth unemployment, and improve investment conditions, Ndam Njoya’s candidacy is gaining attention. Her advocacy for the rotation principle for the restitution of looted cultural assets has also sparked interest in Germany.