The Cameroon Electoral Process: Stakes, Challenges and Prospects of Elections Cameroon (ELECAM)

Abstract

Whilst many Constitutions or other statutory instruments in Africa today provide for the establishment of an Election Management Body (EMB) in one form or another, there remain serious problems about their design and effectiveness. The objective of this paper is to examine the stakes, challenges and prospects of EMBs. Using the example of Elections Cameroon (ELECAM), the newest EMB in Cameroon, it finds that although significant efforts have been recorded by this body such as the effective enactment of the Electoral Code, computerisation of voter registration, voter cards and electoral rolls, and the successful organisation and supervision of Presidential, Senatorial, Parliamentary and Council elections, it still finds it hard to convince electoral stakeholders of its neutral and impartial nature. It is therefore an appeal for EMBs to further work out their ability to be politically neutral, independent and impartial so as to guarantee electoral fair-play and transparency.