Presidential elections were held in Cameroon on 9 October 2011. Incumbent President Paul Biya stood for another term after a constitutional amendment passed in 2008 eliminated term limits. Biya was re-elected with 78% of the vote.
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| Registered | 7,251,651 | ||||||||||||||||
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| Turnout | 68.28% | ||||||||||||||||
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Background
editSome opposition demands regarding voting rights for the diaspora were met before the election, when lawmakers passed an amendment to the electoral law in July 2011.[1]
Candidates
editLong-time opposition leader John Fru Ndi also stood as a candidate in the election.[2][3] Fifty other people submitted paperwork to ELECAM, the electoral commission, seeking to stand as presidential candidates.[3] Observers viewed the opposition as anemic and expected Biya to easily win re-election.[4]
Daniel Soh Fone of the United Socialist Party withdrew before the election, giving his support to Biya.[5]
Conduct
editThe United States Ambassador to Cameroon, Robert P. Jackson and former colonial power France have criticized the election, citing irregularities.[6] Several political parties claimed they would challenge the results.[7]
The mission Chief of the African Union's Observer Mission in Cameroon, former Prime Minister of Mali Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta stated in his report that the African Union judges found the vote to be "free, transparent and credible".[8][9] La Francophonie and the Commonwealth also praised the election. Fred Mitchell, former Foreign Minister of The Bahamas, led the Commonwealth mission to Cameroon; he said that there were no signs that people were coerced to vote and the election was conducted peacefully.[10]
Results
edit| Candidate | Party | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paul Biya | Cameroon People's Democratic Movement | 3,772,527 | 77.99 | |
| John Fru Ndi | Social Democratic Front | 518,175 | 10.71 | |
| Garga Haman Adji | Alliance for Democracy and Development | 155,348 | 3.21 | |
| Adamou Ndam Njoya | Cameroon Democratic Union | 83,860 | 1.73 | |
| Paul Abine Ayah | People's Action Party | 61,158 | 1.26 | |
| Kah Walla | Cameroon People's Party | 34,639 | 0.72 | |
| Albert Dzongang | Dynamic for National Renaissance | 26,396 | 0.55 | |
| Jean de Dieu Momo | Democrat Patriots for the Development of Cameroon | 23,791 | 0.49 | |
| Jean-Jacques Ekindi | Progressive Movement | 21,593 | 0.45 | |
| Bernard Muna | Alliance of Progressive Forces | 18,444 | 0.38 | |
| Esther Dang | Bloc for the Reconstruction and Economic Independence of Cameroon | 15,775 | 0.33 | |
| Olivier Anicet Bilé | Union for Fraternity and Prosperity | 15,202 | 0.31 | |
| Anicet Ekane | African Movement for New Independence and Democracy | 11,081 | 0.23 | |
| Victorin Hameni Bieuleu | Union of Democratic Forces of Cameroon | 10,615 | 0.22 | |
| Fritz Pierre Ngo | Movement of Cameroonian Ecologists | 9,259 | 0.19 | |
| Jean Njeunga | United Front of Cameroon | 9,219 | 0.19 | |
| Isaac Feuzeu | Movement for the Emergence and Rise of Citizen | 9,216 | 0.19 | |
| Hubert Kamgang | Union of African Populations | 8,250 | 0.17 | |
| Simon Pierre Atangana Nsoe | Great Cameroon | 8,032 | 0.17 | |
| Marcus Lontouo | Cameroonian National Congress | 7,875 | 0.16 | |
| George Dobgima Nyamndi | Social Liberal Congress | 5,925 | 0.12 | |
| Joachim Tabi Owono | Action for Meritocracy and Equal Opportunities | 5,795 | 0.12 | |
| Daniel Soh Fone | United Socialist Party | 5,074 | 0.10 | |
| Total | 4,837,249 | 100.00 | ||
| Valid votes | 4,837,249 | 97.69 | ||
| Invalid/blank votes | 114,185 | 2.31 | ||
| Total votes | 4,951,434 | 100.00 | ||
| Registered voters/turnout | 7,251,651 | 68.28 | ||
| Source: African Elections Database | ||||
Aftermath
editBiya was sworn in for another term as president in a ceremony held at the National Assembly on 3 November.[11]
References
edit- ^ Scott Stearns, Some diaspora cleared to cast ballots in Cameroon election Archived 14 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine VOA News, 13 July 2011
- ^ "Cameroon's Biya to seek re-election in October polls" Archived 24 January 2013 at archive.today, Agence France-Presse, 4 September 2011.
- ^ a b "Casalammmeroon leader, 51 others seek presidency" Archived 22 May 2012 at the Wayback Machine, VOA News, 5 September 2011.
- ^ Anne Look, "Cameroon's longtime leader to seek re-election in October" Archived 28 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine, VOA News, 5 September 2011.
- ^ "Cameroon: As polling continues, a candidate gives Biya support". WADR. 9 October 2011. Archived from the original on 9 March 2012. Retrieved 6 November 2011.
- ^ "Turnout Low in Cameroon Presidential Poll". Voice of America. 8 October 2011. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
- ^ "Presidential elections in Cameroon: claims of irregularities | Radio Netherlands Worldwide". Rnw.nl. 10 October 2011. Archived from the original on 8 September 2012. Retrieved 6 November 2011.
- ^ Pius Lukong (21 October 2011). "Cameroon's President Biya Wins Vote, Extending 29-Year Rule". Bloomberg News. Archived from the original on 26 October 2011. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
- ^ Fon Mndere (14 October 2011). "Inch'Allah Opposition delivers Cameroon to Biya on a Platter of silver". Afrik-News. Archived from the original on 3 August 2019. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
- ^ "Cameroon's Polls: Praised by International Observers; Condemned by Opposition". Voanews.com. 16 October 2011. Archived from the original on 19 January 2012. Retrieved 6 November 2011.
- ^ "Biya sworn in again vowing to 'transform' Cameroon", AFP, 3 November 2011.