AFRICAN ELECTIONS DATABASE

Home | About the Database | Terms & Definitions | Election Calendar | Election Chronology | Recent Elections | Electoral Authorities | Sub-National Elections | Freedom/Democracy/Human Rights | Site Updates | Links
Elections in Cameroon
 
Political Profile
Political System: Restricted Democratic Practice
President: Paul Biya (RDPC) [since 6 November 1982; elected 1984, re-elected 1988, 1992, 1997, 2004, and 2011] The President is elected by direct popular vote for a 7-year term. Electoral System: First Past The Post.
Prime Minister: Philémon Yang (RDPC) [since 30 June 2009] 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.
Electoral Authority: Elections Cameroon "ELECAM"
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: 2018
Next Scheduled National Assembly Election: February 2013
2012 Freedom House Rating: Political Rights - 6, Civil Liberties - 6, Status: Not Free
Political Parties: ADD - Alliance for Democracy and Development, AFP - Alliance of Progressive Forces, AMEC - Action for Meritocracy and Equal Opportunities, BRIC - Bloc for the Reconstruction and Economic Independence of Cameroon, CNC - Cameroon National Congress, CPNC - Cameroon People's National Convention, CPP - Cameroon People's Party, DIC - Cameroon Integral Democracy, FPUP - Popular Front for Unity and Peace, FUC - United Front of Cameroon, GC - Grand Cameroon, JDP - Justice and Development Party, KNC - Kamerun National Congress, KNDP - Kamerun National Democratic Party, KPP - Kamerun People's Party, LA DYNAMIQUE - Dynamics for National Rebirth, MANC - Cameroonian National Action Movement, 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, MERCI - Movement for the Emergence and Awakening of Citizens, MLJC - Movement for the Liberation of Cameroonian Youth, MNSD - Social Movement for New Democracy, MP - Progressive Movement, NPC-BUSH - Nationalism of Cameroonian Patriots, OK - One Kamerun, PADDEC - Democratic Patriots for the Development of Cameroon, PAP - People's Action Party, PDC - Cameroonian Party of Democrats, PDS - Party of Social Democracy, PI - Independent Peasants, PPD - Popular Party for Development, PSC - Socialist Party of Cameroon, PSU - Unified Socialist Party, RDPC - Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (conservative), RFP - Rally of Patriotic Forces, 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, UFP - Union for Fraternity and Prosperit, UNC - Cameroonian National Union, UNDP - National Union for Democracy and Progress (center-left, moderate Islamist), UPA - Union of African Populations, UPC - Union of the Peoples of Cameroon.
Coalitions: Kamerun National Congress-Kamerun People's Party (KNC-KPP) [Contested the 1959 British Southern Cameroons House of Assembly Election]; Progressives Group of Cameroon (GPC) [Contested the 1960 French Cameroon National Assembly Election] Member parties include the Cameroonian National Action Movement (MANC) and the Socialist Party of Cameroon (PSC).
Election Results
 
 
FRENCH CAMEROON/EAST CAMEROON
Legislative: 1956, 1960
Constitutional Referendum: 1960
 
BRITISH SOUTHERN CAMEROONS/WEST CAMEROON
Legislative: 1959, 1961
Plebiscite: 1961
 
CAMEROON
Presidential
--Multiparty: 1992, 1997, 2004, 2011
--Single Party: 1965, 1970, 1975, 1980, 1984, 1988
Legislative
--Multiparty: 1964, 1992, 1997, 2002, 2007
--Single Party: 19701973, 1978, 1983, 1988
Constitutional Referendum: 1972  
 
 
23 December 1956 French Cameroon Territorial Assembly Election*

Registered Voters

1,752,902

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

   725,000 (41.4%)

Party Number of Seats (70)
Cameroonian Union (UC) 30
Cameroonian Party of Democrats (PDC) 20
Independent Peasants (PI) 9
Cameroonian National Action Movement (MANC) 8
Others 3
*The Territorial Assembly was renamed the Legislative Assembly in 1957.
 
24 January 1959 British Southern Cameroons House of Assembly Election

Registered Voters

205,576

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (N/A)

Invalid/Blank Votes

Not Available

Total Valid Votes

137,219

Party/[Coalition] Number of Votes % of Votes Number of Seats (26)
Kamerun National Democratic Party (KNDP) 73,305 53.42% 14
Kamerun National Congress-Kamerun People's Party [KNC-KPP] 51,384 37.45% 12

Kamerun National Congress (KNC)


8
Kamerun People's Party (KPP) 4
One Kamerun (OK) 2,021 1.47% -
Independents 10,509 7.66% -
 
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 in areas formerly known as French Cameroon. French Cameroon became the independent Republic of Cameroon on 1 January 1960.
 
10 April 1960 National Assembly Election*

Registered Voters

1,940,438

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

1,349,739 (69.6%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

Not Available

Total Valid Votes

1,349,539

Party/[Coalition] Number of Votes % of Votes Number of Seats (100)
Cameroonian Union (UC) 606,000 44.91% 51
Popular Front for Unity and Peace (FPUP) 145,752 10.80% 19
Cameroonian Party of Democrats (PDC) 139,780 10.36% 12
Union of the Peoples of Cameroon (UPC) 151,379 11.22% 8
Progressives Group of Cameroon [GPC] 60,686 4.50% 7
Others 233,789 17.33% -
Independents 11,853 0.88% 3
*The election was conducted in areas formerly known as French Cameroon. French Cameroon became the independent Republic of Cameroon on 1 January 1960.  
 
Note: On 5 May 1960, the National Assembly elected Ahmadou Ahidjo President of the Republic. He received 89 of the 99 total votes cast in the election.
 
30 December 1961 West Cameroon House of Assembly Election*

Registered Voters

Not Available

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (N/A)

Invalid/Blank Votes

Not Available

Total Valid Votes

255,433

Party Number of Votes % of Votes Number of Seats (37)
Kamerun National Democratic Party (KNDP) 140,347 54.94% 24
Cameroon People's National Convention (CPNC) 68,458 26.80% 10
One Kamerun (OK) 17,733 6.94% 1
Others 1,401 0.55% -
Independents 27,494 10.76% 2
*The election was conducted in areas formerly known as British Southern Cameroons. In a plebiscite held on 11-12 February 1961, voters in the Southern Cameroons chose to unite with the Republic of Cameroon, which took place on 1 October 1961. 
 
24 April 1964 Federal National Assembly Election

Registered Voters

Not Available

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (N/A)

Party Number of Votes % of Votes Number of Seats (50)
East Cameroon
Cameroonian Union (UC) 1,863,614 93.50% 40
Cameroonian Party of Democrats (PDC) 129,571 6.50% -
West Cameroon
Kamerun National Democratic Party (KNDP) 192,081 76.05% 10
Cameroon People's National Convention (CPNC) 60,485 23.95% -
 
23 March 1965 Presidential Election*/**

Registered Voters

2,845,515

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

2,702,098 (95.1%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

       1,401

Total Valid Votes

2,700,697

Candidate (Party) Number of Votes % of Votes
Ahmadou Ahidjo (UC)/John Ngu Foncha (KNDP)* 2,700,697 100.00%
*A joint ticket with Ahmadou Ahidjo as the presidential candidate and John Ngu Foncha as the vice-presidential candidate. They received 100.00% of the valid votes cast and 99.95% of the total votes cast in the election.
**Some sources list the election date as 20 March 1965.
 
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)

Registered Voters

3,501,177

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

3,479,186 (99.4%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

          244

Total Valid Votes

3,478,942 (99.99%)

Ahmadou Ahidjo

3,478,942 (100.00%)

7 June 1970 Federal National Assembly Election (50 Seats)

Registered Voters

3,049,073

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

2,928,884 (96.1%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

     52,295

Total Valid Votes

2,876,589 (98.21%)

UNC

2,876,589 (100.00%)

20 May 1972 Constitutional 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   (0.01%)

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 (99.98%)

UNC

3,261,486 (100.00%)

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

Registered Voters

3,502,640

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

3,483,328 (99.4%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

          163

Total Valid Votes

3,483,165 (100.00%)

Ahmadou Ahidjo

3,483,165 (100.00%)

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 (99.99%)

UNC

3,563,199 (100.00%)

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

Registered Voters

3,361,630

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

3,329,235 (99.0%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

            90

Total Valid Votes

3,329,145 (100.00%)

Ahmadou Ahidjo

3,329,145 (100.00%)

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 (100.00%)

UNC

3,628,469 (100.00%)

14 January 1984 Presidential Election (Paul Biya elected unopposed)

Registered Voters

3,968,673

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

3,878,745 (97.7%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

          607

Total Valid Votes

3,878,138 (99.98%)

Paul Biya

3,878,138 (100.00%)

24 January 1988 Presidential Election (Paul Biya re-elected unopposed)

Registered Voters

3,634,568

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

3,364,090 (92.6%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

     42,218

Total Valid Votes

3,321,872 (98.75%)

Paul Biya

3,321,872 (100.00%)

24 January 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 (98.75%)

RDPC

3,179,858 (100.00%)

 
1 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 the Peoples of Cameroon (UPC) 6
*Two opposition parties, the Social Democratic Front (SDF) and Cameroon Democratic Union (UDC), boycotted the poll.
 
11 October 1992 Presidential Election [Results by Province]

Registered Voters

4,195,687

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

3,015,448 (71.9%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

     50,012

Total Valid Votes

2,965,436

Candidate (Party) Number of Votes % of Votes
Paul Biya (RDPC) 1,185,466 39.98%
John Fru Ndi (SDF) 1,066,602 35.97%
Bello Bouba Maigari (UNDP) 569,887 19.22%
Adamou Ndam Njoya (UDC) 107,411 3.62%
Jean-Jacques Ekindi (MP) 23,525 0.79%
Emah Ottou (RFP) 12,545 0.42%
 
17 May 1997 National Assembly Election

Registered Voters

3,844,330

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

2,906,186 (75.6%)

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) 5
Movement for the Defense of the Republic (MDR) 1
Union of the Peoples of Cameroon (UPC) 1
Liberty Movement of the Cameroon Youth (MLJC) 1
Vacant* 7
*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

4,220,136

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) 5
Union of the Peoples of Cameroon (UPC) 3
National Union for Democracy and Progress (UNDP) 1
*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 (N/A)

Party Number of Seats (180)
Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (RDPC) 153
Social Democratic Front (SDF) 16
National Union for Democracy and Progress (UNDP) 6
Cameroon Democratic Union (UDC) 4
Progressive Movement (MP) 1
*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.
 
9 October 2011 Presidential Election

Registered Voters

7,251,651

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

4,951,434 (68.3%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

   114,185

Total Valid Votes

4,847,249

Candidate (Party) Number of Votes % of Votes
Paul Biya (RDPC) 3,772,527 77.99%
John Fru Ndi (SDF) 518,175 10.71%
Garga Haman Adji (ADD) 155,348 3.21%
Adamou Ndam Njoya (UDC) 83,860 1.73%
Paul Abine Ayah (PAP) 61,158 1.26%
Edith Kahbang Walla (CPP) 34,639 0.72%
Albert Dzongang (LA DYNAMIQUE) 26,396 0.55%
Jean de Dieu Momo (PADDEC) 23,791 0.49%
Jean-Jacques Ekindi (MP) 21,593 0.45%
Bernard Muna (AFP) 18,444 0.38%
Esther Dang (BRIC) 15,775 0.33%
Olivier Anicet Bilé (UFP) 15,202 0.31%
Anicet Ekane (MANIDEM) 11,081 0.23%
Victorin Hameni Bieuleu (UFDC) 10,615 0.22%
Fritz Pierre Ngo (MEC) 9,259 0.19%
Jean Njeunga (FUC) 9,219 0.19%
Isaac Feuzeu (MERCI) 9,216 0.19%
Hubert Kamgang (UPA) 8,250 0.17%
Simon Pierre Atangana Nsoe (GC) 8,032 0.17%
Marcus Lontouo (CNC) 7,875 0.16%
George Dobgima Nyamndi (SLC) 5,925 0.12%
Joachim Tabi Owono (AMEC) 5,795 0.12%
Daniel Soh Fone (PSU) 5,074 0.10%