And is ready to offer support
By Chrsitopher Ambe Shu
The Commonwealth has issued its Final Report on the October
9, 2011 Presidential Election in Cameroon. According to the report,
some benchmarks for democratic elections were met. But there is “the need for a
more level electoral playing field in Cameroon”, it said.
Paul Biya, 78, was reelected president with 87.9% at the
October 9 presidential election, which was contested by 23 candidates.
The Cameroon
opposition said the election was marred by fraud and irregularities, and called
for its cancellation, a call which was rejected by the country’s Supreme Court,
sitting in for the Constitutional Council, yet to be set up.
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| Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma |
Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma on 22 December 2011 released the Final Report of the Commonwealth Expert Team which observed the 9 October 2011 Presidential Election in Cameroon.
He said: "The Commonwealth Expert Team found that
overall, the election was credible and some of the benchmarks for democratic
elections were met. The Team noted that, though more could have been done to
level the playing field, the election represented further progress for Cameroon in
strengthening its democratic processes.
The Team noted the establishment of
Elections Cameroon (ELECAM) as a laudable first step and commended its efforts
in the overall management of the process, when compared to previous elections.
The Team also noted that ELECAM could have done more to affirm its independence
and to address the legal, administrative and logistical constraints it faced in
managing the campaigning and electoral environment. The Team also offered a
number of recommendations for upgrading electoral procedures in Cameroon,
particularly with regard to voter registration.”
The Secretary-General stressed that: “The Commonwealth
stands ready to assist Cameroon
in further strengthening its democratic process.”
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