Esther Imonmion
The United Nations has urged Cameroon to guarantee free and transparent elections following concerns over restrictions on opposition activity ahead of the country’s presidential poll.
At a bi-weekly press briefing in Geneva on Tuesday, Jeremy Laurence, spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, warned of “rising restrictions on the activities of opposition political parties in the lead-up to the election.” He cited bans on gatherings, the exclusion of certain political figures from the race, and irregularities in voter registration as key issues.
President Paul Biya, 92, announced in July that he would seek re-election, ending months of speculation that he might step aside. The veteran leader, who has ruled since 1982, is seeking an eighth term. He is Africa’s second-longest-serving president after Teodoro Obiang of Equatorial Guinea.
Biya’s lengthy rule has been marked by allegations of corruption, frequent absences abroad due to poor health, and a secessionist conflict in the English-speaking regions that has displaced thousands and sparked violent clashes with security forces.
Cameroon has also grappled with spillover violence from the Nigeria-based extremist group Boko Haram, further complicating the country’s security landscape.
In the last election in 2018, Biya secured more than 70 percent of the vote, though the process was marred by irregularities and low voter turnout amid separatist and jihadi violence.
The UN has called on Cameroonian authorities to ensure an inclusive and credible process this time, stressing that democratic legitimacy depends on the participation of all political actors.