This chapter examines the reconfigurations of local power within the framework of decentralization reforms in Cameroon, focusing on the tensions between municipal and nonstate actors. Through an in-depth qualitative study of local elected officials and development associations, this research explores how these actors articulate their legitimacy and authority in a fragmented governance landscape. In a context where decentralization is often portrayed as a lever for community empowerment, this chapter demonstrates how local elected officials, positioned as political brokers, mobilize state, social, and economic resources to redefine their roles. Simultaneously, development associations are emerging as counterpowers, and sometimes as competitors, bypassing municipal authorities to secure direct access to funding and implement local projects. These dynamics expose a structural tension between the proclaimed autonomy of local authorities and the enduring dependencies on central authorities and external actors. Building on the sociology of local elites, studies on participatory governance, and institutional fragmentation, this chapter analyzes the mechanisms through which decentralization reforms, rather than reinforcing institutional coherence, reconfigure power relations by multiplying centers of authority. It highlights the politicization of interactions between elected officials and associative actors, reflecting not only struggles for control over local resources but also attempts to secure legitimacy in the face of community expectations. The aim is to contribute to the understanding of urban governance in Africa by demonstrating how decentralization functions as both a normative and conflictual framework, where the boundaries of power are continuously negotiated among diverse local actors.