In the evolving political landscape of Cameroon, few figures stand out as defiantly as Barrister Michèle Sonia Martine Ndoki. A lawyer, human rights advocate, and now a presidential hopeful, Ndoki’s journey has been anything but conventional. From her early days as a corporate legal expert to becoming a vocal critic of the Cameroonian government, she has consistently positioned herself as a champion of justice, democracy, and human rights. Born in France in 1973, Ndoki moved to Cameroon with her family at the age of one. She pursued her education in France, earning a Master’s in Company Law from Université de Champagne (1994-1995) and a postgraduate degree in the same field from Université d’Angers (1995-1996). Returning home, she carved out a career in corporate law, working for firms like Ngwe & Associés and PriceWaterhouseCoopers before taking on roles with multinationals such as Orange, Diageo, Sanofi Laboratories, and Gicam.
In 2012, she transitioned into independent legal consultancy, reinforcing her expertise in business and human rights law. In 2014, she passed the internship access exam to return to the legal profession, and in 2015, she won the French-speaking advocacy contest against the death penalty. Ndoki’s legal career took a decisive turn when she began advocating for marginalized groups and political prisoners. She joined the Association for the Defence of Homosexual Rights (Adefho) in 2015 and co-founded Freedom Generation, an association promoting civil liberties. Her legal acumen and fearless advocacy earned her recognition, particularly in defending victims of oppression and political injustices. Ndoki entered active politics in 2012 with the Cameroon People’s Party, CPP, before transitioning to the Cameroon Renaissance Movement, CRM in December 2016.
She quickly rose to prominence, becoming the departmental head of the CRM in the Douala 1st constituency and the first national vice-president of the party’s women’s wing. Ndoki played a pivotal role in CRM’s political strategies, particularly during the 2018 presidential elections, where she actively supported Maurice Kamto and led post-election litigation efforts. Her rising influence within the party, however, was met with resistance. In 2022, after expressing interest in the party’s leadership, she faced internal opposition, with documented instances of harassment and intimidation. This culminated in her expulsion from the party in July 2023. Ndoki’s political activism came at a great personal cost. During a political demonstration in January 2019, she was shot, arrested in February, and imprisoned for eight months. Her detention sparked both national and international outcry, eventually leading to her release on October 4, 2019, by order of President Paul Biya.
Despite the obstacles, she remained steadfast in her advocacy, continuing to denounce injustices and demand democratic reforms. However, due to increasing threats and political repression, she left Cameroon for Ivory Coast in 2020. Her two sons, then 21 and 13, later joined her in 2021. Despite her exile, Ndoki remains undeterred. She has recently launched Le Mouvement des Bâtisseurs de la Nation (The Nation Builders’ Movement), a platform aimed at mobilizing Cameroonians towards democratic change. Unlike traditional political parties, this movement seeks to unify citizens around governance reforms and national development, providing an alternative voice for political engagement. Now 52, Ndoki balances her political aspirations with personal responsibilities.
She currently holds a relatively low-paying job at a law firm in Abidjan, where she lives in a modest two-bedroom house with her two sons, now 26 and 18. Her ex-husband relocated to Canada following their divorce in 2020. Recently, she returned to Cameroon for the burial of her father, Michel Ndoki, reconnecting briefly with her homeland and her siblings—Frida Frederique, Cecile, Jean-Benoît, and Gaelle. Ndoki’s journey is one of resilience and determination. She envisions a Cameroon where democracy thrives, political freedoms are respected, and justice prevails. With her unwavering stance against oppression and a commitment to mobilizing grassroots support, she remains a formidable force in the nation’s political sphere.
