CAMEROONS SLOW PROGRESS ON ELECTIONS SINCE THE 1990s: A QUESTION OF TEXTS?

This article has shown that Cameroons electoral process in particular and democracy in general has been stalled after the first two elections in the early 1990s. Compared to most sub-Saharan states that opened up the political arena in the 90s, Cameroon has made a giant leap backwards after a timid progress at the beginning. The reason for this backward movement is due to a political will and determination of the regime not to level up the political field. This political will in particular has been exhibited in the bad electoral texts that have been enacted since the 90s. The electoral gains at the beginning of the opposition was squarely due to the naivety of the regime at that time and which learned a lesson to avoid future embarrassing results by developing sophisticated methods of fraud. The regime has turned a deaf ear to calls from the opposition, civil society and international partners to reform the electoral code. Due to this uncollaborative response from the regime, some opposition parties have boycotted some elections. Another clear evidence of the bad faith in the electoral process comes from the high number of petitions in each election. The article has in its first part analysed the events/processes that led to pluralism in the 90s and in the seconda full analysis of the electoral texts since the 90s. The article has concluded that the only way forward is an overhaul of the electoral texts that ensuresthe complete independence of Elections Cameroon (Elecam).