Cameroonian parliamentary election, 2007

A parliamentary election was held in Cameroon on 22 July 2007, [http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/6222261.html "Low turnout mars Cameroonian legislative elections"] , Xinhua ("People's Daily Online"), July 23, 2007.] with some polls held again on 30 September 2007.Christian Lang, [http://www.cameroon-info.net/cmi_show_news.php?id=20307&cid=3 "Législatives partielles: Retour aux urnes le 30 septembre !"] , "Le Messager" (Cameroon-info.net), August 30, 2007 fr.] 1,274 candidates stood for the 180 seats in the National Assembly, with 41 parties participating. [http://apanews.net/spip.php?page=show_article&id_article=34447 "More than 1200 candidates vie for 180 MP seats in Cameroon"] , African Press Agency, 1 June 2007.] The ruling Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (RDPC) won a large majority, taking 153 seats; the main opposition party, the Social Democratic Front (SDF), won 16 seats. [http://www.jeuneafrique.com/pays/cameroun/article_depeche.asp?art_cle=XIN70027lesrsemrpus0 "Les résulats des législatives partielles proclamés par la Cour suprême"] , Xinhua (Jeuneafrique.com), October 15, 2007 fr icon.]

Local elections were held on the same day as the parliamentary election, with seats on 363 town councils at stake; [http://www.jeuneafrique.com/fluxafp/fil_info.asp?reg_id=0&art_cle=38232 "Cameroun: large victoire du parti au pouvoir aux législatives et municipales"] , AFP (Jeuneafrique.com), 24 July 2007 fr.] there were a total of 6,514 available municipal positions being contested by 24,820 municipal candidates.

Conduct of the election

On 17 July, John Fru Ndi, the leader of the opposition SDF, which suffered from divisions in the years preceding the election, said that the preparations for the elections were plagued with irregularities, including poor distribution of voter registration cards (with some people receiving multiple cards and others receiving no cards) and the redrawing of electoral districts even though census results had not been published. Fru Ndi said that the election would not be transparent and blamed President Paul Biya for this; he said the ruling RDPC wanted a two-thirds parliamentary majority so that the constitution could be changed in order to allow Biya to run for president again in 2011. The SDF participated in the election, with 103 candidates from the party seeking seats; according to Fru Ndi, a boycott would be useless. [ [http://www.jeuneafrique.com/fluxafp/fil_info.asp?reg_id=0&art_cle=38073 "Cameroun: le principal opposant dénonce des "irrégularités" dans l'organisation des élections"] , AFP (Jeuneafrique.com), 17 July 2007 fr.]

The RDPC was the only party to have candidates in all districts. [http://www.jeuneafrique.com/fluxafp/fil_info.asp?reg_id=0&art_cle=38204 "Législatives et municipales: les Camerounais votent sans enthousiasme"] , AFP (Jeuneafrique.com), 22 July 2007 fr.]

Voter turnout in the election was reportedly low, with one estimate placing turnout in Douala at about 20%, although the Minister of Territorial Administration, Marafa Hamidou Yaya, said late on the day of the election that turnout was "very honorable" across the country. He also said that the election had gone smoothly and without major incidents. Others, however, said that there were irregularities, including widespread cases of people being allowed to vote with only voter registration cards and not identity cards as well. [http://www.jeuneafrique.com/fluxafp/fil_info.asp?reg_id=0&art_cle=38223 "Cameroun: l'opposition dénonce des "fraudes massives" aux élections"] , AFP (Jeuneafrique.com), 23 July 2007 fr.] The opposition denounced the election as fraudulent, with Fru Ndi labelling it a "sham"; it alleged that ballot papers were withheld from some people, that the indelible ink could be washed off, and that one town in the north did not receive ballot papers. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6911217.stm "Cameroon leader predicts victory"] , BBC News, 23 July 2007.] There were also opposition allegations that some people were enabled to vote for the RDPC in place of other voters.

In addition to the SDF, the Cameroonian Democratic Union (UDC) also alleged fraud, and the SDF and the UDC announced that they would appeal in every district where they were defeated. Another opposition party, the Alliance of Democratic Forces (AFP), said that it would not appeal because it considered the legal system so corrupt that it would be useless to do so.

President Biya, voting in Yaoundé, said that he expected "a comfortable majority, which will enable me to build and modernise the country." He said that campaigning occurred "in a calm, serene and peaceful atmosphere", and expressed his hope that this atmosphere would remain and that people would accept the results. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6910434.stm "'Low turnout' in Cameroon voting"] , BBC News, 22 July 2007.]

Announcement of results and events following the election

Provisional results announced by Marafa Hamidou Yaya late on 23 July showed a large victory for the RDPC, which was credited with 152 seats, three more than in the previous National Assembly. The SDF had 14 seats, eight fewer than in the previous National Assembly, while the UDC had four seats, one less than in the previous National Assembly. The Progressive Movement had one seat. The National Union for Democracy and Progress (UNDP), allied with the RDPC, had two seats, compared to one in the previous National Assembly. Results for another seven seats were not yet available. Voter turnout was placed at 62%, although it was lower in Douala, where it was placed at 30%, and Yaoundé, where it was placed at 49%. The opposition disputed this turnout estimate; the SPF said that turnout was half of what the government claimed. [ [http://apanews.net/apa.php?page=show_article_eng&id_article=38105 "Cameroon’s war of figures over turnout in legislative, municipal polls"] , African Press Agency, July 26, 2007.] RDPC Secretary-General Rene Emmanuel Sadi denied the opposition's accusations of fraud, saying that by blaming the RDPC instead of engaging in self-criticism and refusing to acknowledge legitimate defeat, the opposition displayed an undemocratic mindset. Sadi said that the RDPC won because it had delivered real results to the people and engaged in grassroots campaigning. [ [http://apanews.net/apa.php?page=show_article_eng&id_article=38086 "Cameroon’s ruling party calls on opposition to play fair"] , African Press Agency, July 26, 2007.]

103 appeals regarding the election in various districts were filed with the Supreme Court by a number of parties; [ [http://www.jeuneafrique.com/fluxafp/fil_info.asp?reg_id=0&art_cle=38361 "Législatives au Cameroun: 103 recours en annulation devant la Cour suprême"] , AFP (Jeuneafrique.com), July 30, 2007 fr.] most of them requested that the vote in particular districts be annulled, although some sought only a neutral recount. The UNDP filed the most appeals, with 33, while the SDF filed 30, the Union of the Peoples of Cameroon (UPC) filed six, and the RDPC filed four. [ [http://www.jeuneafrique.com/pays/cameroun/article_depeche.asp?art_cle=XIN70027lacousevita1 "La Cour suprême examine les requêtes sur les irrégularités constatées lors des législatives"] , Xinhua (Jeuneafrique.com), August 7, 2007 fr.] Fru Ndi said on August 2 that the entire election should be annulled due to fraud. He claimed that if the election had been "free and transparent", the SDF would have won a majority in both the parliamentary and municipal elections. [ [http://www.jeuneafrique.com/pays/cameroun/article_depeche.asp?art_cle=PAN70027lesdfnuorem0 "Le SDF exige l’annulation des législatives et municipales au Cameroun"] , Panapress (Jeuneafrique.com), August 2, 2007 fr.]

On August 10, final results were announced by the Supreme Court. The RDPC won 140 seats, the SDF won 14 seats, the UNDP and the UDC won four seats each, and the Progressive Movement won one seat. [http://www.spm.gov.cm/detail_art.php?id_art=1384&type=artune&lang=fr "Les résultats des législatives du 22 juillet 2007 proclamés."] , Cameroonian government website fr.] [http://www.jeuneafrique.com/fluxafp/fil_info.asp?reg_id=0&art_cle=38605 "Cameroun: l'écrasante victoire du parti de Biya aux législatives confirmée"] , AFP (Jeuneafrique.com), August 10, 2007 fr.] The Supreme Court annulled the election in five districts, leaving 17 seats vacant until new elections are held there. [http://apanews.net/apa.php?page=show_article_eng&id_article=39908 "Diplomats criticise Cameroon elections as “fraught with irregularities”"] , African Press Agency, August 21, 2007.] Of the 163 deputies elected, there were 23 women, 14% of the total. [http://www.jeuneafrique.com/pays/cameroun/article_depeche.asp?art_cle=PAN70027defemesianu0 "14% de femmes à l’Assemblée nationale camerounaise"] , Panapress (Jeuneafrique.com), August 24, 2007 fr.]

On August 14, Biya expressed a desire for opposition parties to participate in the government. [http://apanews.net/apa.php?page=show_article_eng&id_article=39664 "Cameroon: Leading opposition party will join broad-based gov’t if..."] , African Press Agency, August 17, 2007.] On August 16, Fru Ndi said that the SDF would only join the government if it would follow certain policies: [Roland Tsapi, [http://www.cameroon-info.net/cmi_show_news.php?id=20176 "Gouvernement: Fru Ndi accepte la main tendue de Paul Biya"] , "Le Messager" (Cameroon-info.net), August 17, 2007 fr.] decentralization and federalism, greater priority to the social sector, the establishment of an independent electoral commission, the reduction of taxes to encourage investment, and the improvement of living standards. The SDF did not join the government in the cabinet reshuffle on September 7. [Franck Essomba, [http://www.cameroon-info.net/cmi_show_news.php?id=20417&cid=3 "Réaménagement: Pourquoi le Sdf n’est pas entré au gouvernement"] , "Le Messager" (Cameroon-Info.net), September 11, 2007 fr.]

The new National Assembly held its first session on August 21. [ [http://fr.allafrica.com/stories/200708211050.html "Cameroun: Assemblée nationale - La nouvelle cuvée en conclave"] , "Cameroon Tribune" (allAfrica.com), August 21, 2007 fr.] Although 17 seats were still vacant, only a two-thirds majority was necessary for the National Assembly to meet. On the same day, a joint statement of the American, British, and Dutch embassies criticized the election due to irregularities and urged the creation of an independent electoral commission. Cavaye Yeguie Djibril was re-elected as President of the National Assembly on August 31. [ [http://www.mincom.gov.cm/online/index.asp?lu=l_pan&ind=p_pan "Parliament : Cavaye re-elected House speaker"] , Ministry of Communication website, September 6, 2007.]

Partial re-run

On August 29, it was announced that the election for the five electoral districts where the results were cancelled—Wouri-East, Mayo-Tsanaga-North, Nyong and Kellé, Mungo South, and Haut-Nkam—would be held on September 30. [http://apanews.net/apa.php?page=show_article_eng&id_article=40678 "Cameroon’s by-elections set for 30 September"] , African Press Agency, August 30, 2007.] [ [http://www.jeuneafrique.com/pays/cameroun/article_depeche.asp?art_cle=PAN70027leslgerbmet0 "Les législatives partielles au Cameroun fixées au 30 septembre"] , Panapress (Jeuneafrique.com), August 30, 2007 fr.]

Campaigning for the partial election began on September 15.Roland Tsapi, [http://www.cameroon-info.net/cmi_show_news.php?id=20470 "Partielles 2007: Jeu et enjeux dans les circonscriptions"] , "Le Messager" (Cameroun-info.net), September 17, 2007 fr.] 15 seats are required to form a parliamentary group, and in the results from the first 163 seats no opposition party won that many. With 14 seats, the SDF is hoping to win at least one additional seat on September 30 so that it can form its own parliamentary group. [ [http://apanews.net/apa.php?page=show_article_eng&id_article=42023 "Cameroon: Leading opposition party banks on by-elections to form parliamentary group"] , African Press Agency, September 17, 2007.]

Provisional results showed the RDPC winning 13 of the 17 vacant seats, with the SDF winning two and the UNDP winning two. The RDPC won majorities in three of the five districts at stake, Haut-Nkam, Moungo-South, and Nyong-and-Kellé, taking all three of the available seats in each of those districts. In Wouri-East, the SDF won a plurality, with the RDPC close behind, and the two parties each took two of the four available seats there. In Mayo-Tsanaga-North, the RPDC won a plurality, with the UNDP close behind, and the two parties each took two of the four available seats there.Aimé-Francis Amougou, [http://www.cameroon-info.net/cmi_show_news.php?id=20629 "Elections partielles: Le Rdpc confirme sa suprématie"] , "Cameroon Tribune" (cameroon-info.net), October 2, 2007 fr icon.] The SDF disputed these results, with Fru Ndi claiming that it had actually won six seats: he said that it had won a majority (over 52%) in Wouri-East, giving it all four of those seats, and that it had also won one additional seat in Haut-Nkam and another additional seat in Mayo-Tsanaga-North. [ [http://apanews.net/apa.php?page=show_article_eng&id_article=43234 "Cameroon: Opposition claims victory of 6 seats in legislative by-election"] , African Press Agency, October 3, 2007.]

On October 10, the Supreme Court ruled that six appeals regarding the partial election were inadmissible, and it rejected two other appeals. [Armand Essogo, [http://www.cameroon-info.net/cmi_show_news.php?id=20728 "Contentieux post-électoral des législatives partielles : sans surprise"] , "Cameroun Tribune", October 11, 2007 fr icon.] It confirmed the final results of the partial election on October 15. With 13 additional seats, the RDPC increased its representation in the National Assembly to 153 seats, while the SDF and UNDP, each receiving two additional seats, saw their totals increase to 16 and six respectively.

Local elections

In the local elections for the 363 town councils, provisional results from the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Decentralization showed the RDPC winning control of 310 councils, the SDF winning 21, the UNDP winning 13, the UDC winning eight, the MDR winning five, the UPC winning three, and the National Alliance for Democracy and the People (ANDP) winning one . [http://www.jeuneafrique.com/pays/cameroun/article_depeche.asp?art_cle=PAN70027recoustiudo0 "205 recours en annulation aux municipales introduits"] , Panapress (Jeuneafrique.com), August 16, 2007 fr.] The RDPC was said to have won all of the councils in Yaoundé and five of the six councils in Douala; the SDF was credited with winning the remaining council in Douala, the 4th district. 216 requests for annulment regarding the local elections were filed with the Supreme Court. [http://www.jeuneafrique.com/pays/cameroun/article_depeche.asp?art_cle=PAN70027annulsnoitp0 "Annulation des municipales dans neuf circonscriptions"] , Panapress (Jeuneafrique.com), September 5, 2007 fr.]

Along with the five districts where the parliamentary election was cancelled, a municipal election in Lobo was also set to be held on September 30, and in early September the Supreme Court cancelled the municipal results in nine electoral districts (Bana, Bafang, Bafoussam III, Kekem, Peté, Matom, Messondo, Mokolo, and Douala V), with new elections there also planned for the same date.

In Lobo, the RDPC won the September 30 vote overwhelmingly, with nearly 90%, according to provisional results.

References