Cameroon: Barrister Agbor Balla Rallies for United Opposition at PURS National Congress

By Boris Esono Nwenfor

YAOUNDE, Cameroon – Renowned human rights advocate, Barrister Felix Nkongho Agbor “Balla”, has called on opposition forces across Cameroon to rise above party lines and unite in the common quest for national transformation ahead of the upcoming presidential election in the country.

The founder of the Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa (CHRDA) made the powerful and impassioned address at the 3rd Ordinary National Congress of the United People for Social Renewal (known by its French acronym, PURS), held at the Yaoundé Conference Center on Saturday, April 5.

During the Congress, Serge Espoir Matomba was once again been elected First Secretary of the PURS. He will therefore be the party's candidate in the presidential election.

Speaking to a packed auditorium of party members, activists, and civil society actors, Agbor Balla described the congress not only as a milestone for PURS but a pivotal moment for the entire nation.

“Today is not just about PURS. Today is about Cameroon,” Agbor Balla said. “It is about a nation that cries out for justice, freedom, and a future worthy of its people. We all know that our country is at a crossroads. Too much suffering, too much injustice, too much frustration. But above all, too much division! The regime survives because we are divided. But the day we unite, that is the day they fall! We must no longer be scattered islands. We must become an irresistible force for change.”

Agbor Balla also used the platform to urge for coalition-building among all opposition parties. He emphasized that no single political party, regardless of size or influence, can single-handedly bring about the political change Cameroonians desire.

“No party, however large, can win this battle alone. No single party can win this fight alone. We must build a coalition—a coalition of courage, conviction, and commitment to the people,” Agbor Balla stressed.

“I say this to you, and all the opposition forces across the country: this is not the time for competition between us—this is the time for cooperation! Our adversaries, however, know very well how to unite when their privileges are at stake. Why not us, who carry the hope of the people?”

Highlighting the country's socio-political challenges, Agbor Balla decried the deep divisions that have allowed the current regime to maintain power and rallied for unity as the only path to meaningful change.

He also appealed to all opposition actors to prioritize cooperation over competition, stressing that Cameroonians are not seeking “perfect parties” but a “united force that will deliver change.”
Agbor Balla’s speech struck a strong chord with attendees as he spoke of Cameroon’s youth, the urgency of political alternation, and the need for collective action.

“Let’s make this election not just a vote, but a referendum for change! Let’s show the whole world that Cameroon is rising! Cameroon belongs to all of us, not just to an elite that has been confiscating power for decades. The time for silence is over. The time for fear is over. The time for action is now! United, we will turn the pain of our people into power at the polls! My friends, history is watching us.”

The PURS Congress is one of several key political gatherings expected to shape the country’s road to the highly anticipated 2025 presidential election. With the campaign season gradually gaining momentum, calls for unity among the fragmented opposition continue to dominate national discourse.

“Our children are watching us. We cannot fail them! We must offer them hope for a better future. We must offer them a country reconciled with itself. So, from this Congress of PURS, let the message go forth: Enough is enough! Cameroon deserves better, and together, we will deliver it,” Agbor Balls said.