AFRICAN ELECTIONS DATABASE
Home | About the Database | Site Updates | Recent Elections | Terms and Definitions | Election Calendar | Electoral Authorities | Election Chronology | Freedom, Democracy, and Human Rights
Elections in Cameroon
 
Political Profile
Political System: Restricted Democratic Practice
President: Paul Biya (RDPC) [since 06 November 1982; elected 1984, re-elected 1988, 1992, 1997, and 2004] The President is elected by direct popular vote for a 7-year term. Electoral System: First Past The Post.
Prime Minister: Ephraïm Inoni (RDPC) [since 08 December 2004] The Prime Minister is appointed by the President.
National Assembly [unicameral]: (180 Seats) Members elected by direct popular vote through parallel systems - single-member constituencies using the first-past-the-post system and multi-member constituencies using the party-list proportional representation system; members serve 5-year terms.
Political Situation since Independence
1960-1966 Restricted Democratic Practice
1966-1990 One Party State (UNC/RPDC)
1990-1992 Multiparty Transition
1992-        Restricted Democratic Practice
Next Scheduled Presidential Election: 2009
Next Scheduled National Assembly Election: 2012
2007 Freedom House Rating: Political Rights - 6, Civil Liberties - 6, Status: Not Free
Political Parties: ADD - Alliance for Democracy and Development, AMEC - Action for Meritocracy and Equal Opportunities, DIC - Cameroon Integral Democracy, JDP - Justice and Development Party, KNDP - Kamerun National Democratic Party, MANIDEM - African Movement for New Independence and Democracy, MDI - Movement for Democracy and Interdependence, MDP - Movement for Democracy and Progress, MDR - Movement for the Defense of the Republic, MEC - Cameroon Ecological Movement, MLJC - Movement for the Liberation of Cameroonian Youth, MNSD - Social Movement for New Democracy, MP - Progressive Movement, NPC-BUSH - Nationalism of Cameroonian Patriots, PDS - Party of Social Democracy, PPD - Popular Party for Development, RDPC - Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (conservative), SDF - Social Democratic Front (center-right, social-democratic), SLC - Social Liberal Congress, UC - Cameroonian Union, UDC - Cameroon Democratic Union, UFDC - Union of Democratic Forces in Cameroon, UNC - Cameroonian National Union, UNDP - National Union for Democracy and Progress (center-left, moderate Islamist), UPA - Union of African Populations, UPC - Union of Cameroonian Populations.
 
Election Results
 
 
Presidential
--Multiparty: 1992, 1997, 2004
--Single Party: 1970, 1975, 1980, 1984, 1988
Legislative
--Multiparty: 1960, 1964, 1992, 1997, 2002, 2007
--Single Party: 1973, 1978, 1983, 1988
Referenda/Plebiscites: 1960, 1972
 
 
21 February 1960 Constitutional Referendum*
Main Points: Presidential System of Government, Federal Constitution, One Federal Chamber

Registered Voters

1,771,969

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

1,338,178 (75.5%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

       9,605

Total Valid Votes

1,328,573

Results

Number of Votes

% of Votes

"Yes" Votes

797,498

60.03%

"No" Votes

531,075

39.97%

*The referendum was conducted only in French Cameroon.
 
10 April 1960 National Assembly Election*

Registered Voters

Not Available

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (N/A)

The Cameroonian Union (UC) won a majority of seats in the assembly
*The election was conducted only in French Cameroon.
 
1964 National Assembly Election

Registered Voters

Not Available

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (N/A)

In East Cameroon, the Cameroonian Union (UC) won the election. The Kamerun National Democratic Party (KNDP) won the election in West Cameroon. No figures are available.
 
Single Party Elections
Sole Legal Party: Cameroonian National Union (UNC) 1966-1985; Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (RDPC) 1985-1990

28 March 1970 Presidential Election (Ahmadou Ahidjo re-elected unopposed)

20 May 1972 Referendum
Main Points: Abolish the two state federation, the creation of a Unitary System of Government, and increased presidential powers.

Registered Voters

3,236,280

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

3,179,634 (98.2%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

       1,612

Total Valid Votes

3,178,022

"Yes" Votes

3,177,846 (99.99%)

"No" Votes

          176 (00.01%)

18 May 1973 National Assembly Election (120 Seats)

Registered Voters

3,318,390

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

3,262,064 (98.3%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

          578

Total Valid Votes

3,261,486

UNC

3,261,486 (100.00%)

05 April 1975 Presidential Election (Ahmadou Ahidjo re-elected unopposed)

28 May 1978 National Assembly Election (120 Seats)

Registered Voters

3,592,757

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

3,563,696 (99.2%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

          497

Total Valid Votes

3,563,199

UNC

3,563,199 (100.00%)

05 April 1980 Presidential Election (Ahmadou Ahidjo re-elected unopposed)

29 May 1983 National Assembly Election (120 Seats)

Registered Voters

3,657,995

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

3,628,579 (99.2%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

          110

Total Valid Votes

3,628,469

UNC

3,628,469 (100.00%)

14 January 1984 Presidential Election (Paul Biya elected unopposed)

24 April 1988 Presidential Election (Paul Biya re-elected unopposed with 98.75% of the vote)

24 April 1988 National Assembly Election (180 Seats)

Registered Voters

3,634,568

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

3,282,884 (90.3%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

   103,026

Total Valid Votes

3,179,858

RDPC

3,179,858 (100.00%)

 
01 March 1992 National Assembly Election*

Registered Voters

4,019,562

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

2,435,443 (60.6%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

   238,200

Total Valid Votes

2,197,243

Party

Number of Seats (180)

Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (RDPC)

88

National Union for Democracy and Progress (UNDP)

68

Movement for the Defense of the Republic (MDR)

18

Union of Cameroonian Populations (UPC)

06

*Two opposition parties, the Social Democratic Front (SDF) and Cameroon Democratic Union (UDC), boycotted the poll.
 
11 October 1992 Presidential Election

Registered Voters

4,195,687

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

3,015,440 (71.9%)

Candidate (Party)

% of Votes

Paul Biya (RDPC)

39.98%

John Fru Ndi (SDF)

35.97%

Bello Bouba Maigari (UNDP)

19.22%

Adamou Ndam Njoya (UDC)

3.62%

 
17 May 1997 National Assembly Election

Registered Voters

4,000,000 (approx.)

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (N/A)

Party

Number of Seats (180)

Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (RDPC)

109

Social Democratic Front (SDF)

43

National Union for Democracy and Progress (UNDP)

13

Cameroon Democratic Union (UDC)

05

Movement for the Defense of the Republic (MDR)

01

Union of Cameroonian Populations (UPC)

01

Liberty Movement of the Cameroon Youth (MLJC)

01

Vacant*

07

*The Supreme Court cancelled the election results in seven constituencies due to serious irregularities. On 3 August 1997 further polls were conducted to fill the vacant seats. The RDPC won all of the seats, thus increasing its level of representation in the national assembly to 116.
 
12 October 1997 Presidential Election*

Registered Voters

Not Available

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (81.4%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

Not Available

Total Valid Votes

3,422,055

Candidate (Party)

Number of Votes

% of Votes

Paul Biya (RDPC)

3,167,820

92.57%

Henri Hogbe Ndlend (UPC)

85,693

2.50%

Samuel Eboua (MDP)

83,506

2.44%

Albert Dzongang (PPD)

40,814

1.19%

Joachim Tabi Owono (AMEC)

15,817

0.46%

Antoine N’Demannu (RDPF)

15,490

0.45%

Gustave Essaka (DIC)

12,915

0.38%

*The election was boycotted by three main opposition parties – the Social Democratic Front (SDF), National Union for Democracy and Progress (UNDP), Cameroon Democratic Union (UDC). A smaller party, the Union of African Populations (UPA) also joined the boycott.
 
30 June 2002 National Assembly Election*

Registered Voters

Not Available

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (N/A)

Party

Number of Seats (180)

Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (RDPC)

149

Social Democratic Front (SDF)

22

Cameroon Democratic Union (UDC)

05

Union of the People of Cameroon (UPC)

03

National Union for Democracy and Progress (UNDP)

01

*The Supreme Court nullified the results for 17 seats on account of various irregularities. By-elections were held on 15 September 2002 to fill the vacant seats.
 
11 October 2004 Presidential Election

Registered Voters

4,657,748

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

3,830,272 (82.2%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

     72,051

Total Valid Votes

3,758,221

Candidate (Party)

Number of Votes

% of Votes

Paul Biya (RDPC)

2,665,359

70.92%

John Fru Ndi (SDF)

654,066

17.40%

Adamou Ndam Njoya (UDC)

168,318

4.48%

Garga Haman Adji (ADD)

140,372

3.74%

Justin Mouafo (NPC-BUSH)

14,915

0.40%

Yondo Mandengue Black (MNSD)

13,601

0.36%

Anicet Ekane (MANIDEM)

13,290

0.35%

Fritz Pierre Ngo (MEC)

13,122

0.35%

Jean Michel Tekam (PDS)

12,785

0.34%

Victorin Hameni Bieuleu (UFDC)

11,920

0.32%

Boniface Forbin (JDP)

10,542

0.28%

Djeukam Tchameni (MDI)

10,539

0.28%

Jean-Jacques Ekindi (MP)

10,158

0.27%

Hubert Kamgang (UPA)

7,508

0.20%

George Dobgima Nyamndi (SLC)

6,730

0.18%

Gustave Essaka (DIC)

4,996

0.13%

 
22 July 2007 National Assembly Election*

Registered Voters

5,000,000 (approx.)

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available

Party

Number of Seats (180)

Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (RDPC)

153

Social Democratic Front (SDF)

16

National Union for Democracy and Progress (UNDP)

06

Cameroon Democratic Union (UDC)

04

Progressive Movement (MP)

01

*The Supreme Court nullified the results in five districts (affecting a total of 17 seats) on account of various irregularities. By-elections were held on 30 September 2007 to fill the vacant seats.