What You Need to Know
Cameroon is set to hold its second regional elections on November 30, just seven weeks after the presidential elections that saw Paul Biya re-elected. The elections occur in a politically charged atmosphere, with the ruling party asserting stability amid rising opposition skepticism.
Africa. Cameroon is set to hold its second regional elections on Sunday, November 30, just seven weeks after the presidential elections held on October 12, in which President Paul Biya was re-elected for an eighth term.
These elections come amid a charged political climate, with the government attempting to demonstrate that the situation is under control, while opposition skepticism is on the rise.
The elections are indirect, meaning ordinary citizens do not participate; instead, voting is limited to municipal council members and traditional leaders, who are tasked with electing the governing bodies for the country’s ten regions for a five-year term.
The first version of these elections took place in 2020, and the current elections were postponed to this year, a decision that has drawn widespread criticism from the opposition.
According to a source close to the government, organizing the elections on the new date is seen as evidence of the absence of a post-presidential election crisis, despite acknowledging some “disturbances” in recent weeks.
The source asserts that conducting the voting proves that the country is “stable” and that the situation is “under control,” emphasizing that the decentralization process is proceeding as planned.
Conversely, an official from the ruling party, the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM), admits that the regional elections represent an opportunity to rebalance the party after the challenging period following the presidential elections, despite President Paul Biya’s swearing-in for a new term.
He points out that the electorate for this election remains unchanged, as the same municipal council members who participated in the 2020 elections will vote again, a situation opposed by some opposition parties who argue that the postponement and the adopted mechanism lack transparency.
The ruling party, which controls nine out of ten regions, aims for a sweeping victory to cement its administrative and political dominance. Political analyst Stéphane Akwa notes that the most significant follow-up will be on the positions of traditional leaders, particularly whether they will show any signs of discontent with the government.
On the other side, the opposition is ramping up its activities. Lawyer Alice Nkong, the new spokesperson for opposition leader Issa Tcheroama Bakari—one of President Biya’s most prominent rivals in the recent presidential election—announced a live online broadcast on election day, dubbed “popular regional elections.” This initiative aims to provide a platform for Cameroonians to express their rejection of what Nkong describes as an “electoral farce.”
The opposition continues to make its presence felt through other statements, the latest being from Maurice Kamto, who was re-elected as president of the Cameroon Renaissance Movement (MRC), renewing his call for resistance against what he terms “political manipulation” and for establishing transparent electoral rules that reflect the popular will.
Cameroon has a history of political tension, particularly surrounding elections. The first regional elections took place in 2020, and the current elections were postponed, drawing criticism from opposition parties. The political landscape has been dominated by President Paul Biya, who has been in power for decades, leading to calls for more transparency and democratic reforms from various political factions.
The recent presidential elections in October 2023 have intensified the scrutiny of the electoral process. The ruling party, the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM), aims to consolidate its power in the upcoming regional elections, while opposition groups are increasingly vocal.
