Political coalitions have existed as long as political parties have existed. The modern form of political coalitions emerged in Europe in the 19th century. Coalitions and alliances have since spread across the world, evolving to address modern political and social challenges. Without overlooking other possible reasons, most political coalitions are formed primarily to gain access to political power.
History of Coalitions in Africa
South Africa
In modern Africa, the concept of a coalition cropped up in post-apartheid South Africa where a government of national unity was formed in 1994 including the African National Congress, ANC, and its rivals to help in reconciliation and stability of post-apartheid South Africa.
Kenya
In Kenya, the National Rainbow Coalition, NARC, emerged in 2002. This coalition united various opposition political parties, civil society organizations and groups to end decades of one party rule. NARC succeeded to win the presidential election and thus ended the long years of one party rule in Kenya.
Senegal
In 2024, political parties and civil society groups in Senegal formed a coalition aimed at toppling the decades of one party rule that had spanned through statesmen like Sedar Senghor, Abdou Diouf, Abdoulaye Wade, and Macky Sall. The coalition eventually won in the presidential election and installed Diomaye Faye, who is current President of Senegal.
Cameroon
Here in Cameroon, President Paul Biya is seeking an 08th term in office after coming to power in 1982, taking over from former President Ahmadou Ahidjo as constitutional successor.
Between then and now, Mr Biya has won 07 successive presidential elections; and is now in the race for his 08th mandate, if he wins on October 12, 2025, the date for presidential election in Cameroon.
The 1992 Coalition in Cameroon
The concept of a coalition around a single opposition candidate to challenge the incumbent Cameroon Peoples Democratic Movement, CPDM candidate, is not new in Cameroon.
Cameroonians should still have fresh memories of the Union for Change, a coalition of opposition parties formed in 1992 to challenge the incumbent Paul Biya of the CPDM, in that year’s presidential election.
The 1992 coalition had John Fru Ndi (RIP) of the Social Democratic Front, SDF, as their candidate. That election which was the first multiparty presidential contest in Cameroon’s history, ended up with official results that declared Paul Biya the winner with 39.9 percent of the votes, narrowly defeating Fru Ndi, who officially received 35.9 percent.
The results of the 1992 presidential election were highly contested by the Union for Change and other opposition groups, who alleged widespread fraud and irregularities.
October 12 Presidential Election
In the context of the October 12, 2025 presidential election in Cameroon, a political analyst has observed that Cameroon is that country where the people are more concerned about a coalition for the opposition than the opposition candidates themselves.
Learning From History
With less than two weeks to go to election day, on October 12, 2025, the idea of a single and consensus candidate for the 11 opposition political parties in the presidential race, is still far fetched.
If experience is anything to go by, then Cameroon opposition must learn that the closest the opposition has come to winning in any presidential election was in 1992 with the Union for Change, a coalition of opposition that trailed behind the ruling party with a 04 percent vote difference, (39.9 minus 35.9). All other elections that didn’t have opposition coalition, ended up in a landslide victory for the ruling party candidate.
Multiple Coalitions
Rather than a single candidate for all 11 opposition candidates to face the incumbent candidate, Cameroonians are getting used to multiple coalitions, on the part of the opposition, to face an incumbent who has been in power for more than 40 years.
Political observers and analysts say if in 1992, a strong coalition like the Union for Change could only be runners up, then common sense holds that, only a stronger coalition and with much extra effort and strategies, could be able to unseat a ruling party that has been on the steering wheel for more than four decades.
Tchiroma Coalition
On September 13, 2025, a group of 21 political parties and 21 civil society organizations calling themselves the Union for Change (different from that of 1992), designated candidate Issa Tchiroma Bakary as their consensus candidate. This initiative, instead of gathering support, was rather weakened by a lack of support from other opposition candidates in the race, who have chosen to run independently.
Bello Bouba Coalition
Two candidates in the race for the presidential election, Ateki Seta Caxton of PAL; and Akere Muna of UNIVERS, have dropped their presidential positions, to join forces with UNDP candidate, Bello Bouba Maigari.
Osih Coalition
Hon Osih Joshua Nambangi, SDF National Chairman and Presidential Candidate, is not so hot about a coalition with other candidates. To Osih, he is in a coalition with the Cameroonian people on whom he says he is leaning to be elected on October 12, 2025.
Osih has on several occasions said his party mandated him to go and win the election, which he says he is confident he can win, with the support of the electorate.
Biya Coalition
Beginning from previous elections, President Paul Biya has always depended on coalitions for victory. Though some of his allies like Bello Bouba and Issa Tchiroma have barred the door against him, there are still other allies to depend on, like the Presidential Majority, a group of political parties, headed by El Hadj Lawan Bako, who has still, been vocal about the group’s support for the man, Paul Biya.
By Jeff Ngawe Yufenyu
