By Carolyn Abdenour
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

YAOUNDE, Cameroon – Sunday’s presidential election in Cameroon was marked with apathy as long-standing President Paul Biya’s main opposition party accused the ruling party of fraud.  Mr. Biya faced twenty-two challengers in the election.  The Supreme Court of Cameroon will announce election results within two weeks.

Although the election was generally peaceful, the government reported an unknown gunman killed two gendarmes (members of a military force charged with police duties) at a polling station in the Bakassi peninsular.  Nigeria recently handed control of this oil-rich peninsular to Cameroon after an international court ruling.

Social Democratic Front (“SDF”) official, John Fru Ndi, reported “disorder” and “intimidation” at polling stations, with some people unable to vote while others voted multiple times.  SDF Secretary General Elizabeth Tamanjon said, “”We actually caught some people voting three times . . .. How could such a thing happen?”

To prevent people from voting more than once, poll station workers stamped people with an indelible ink.  However, Mr. Fru Nidi reported this ink easily washed off.  Moreover, at the polling station several people were told that someone had already cast a ballot on their behalf.  The BBC reported it was common for polling stations to have stacks of unclaimed ballots.

On Saturday, Sani Tanimou, general secretary of Elections Cameroon (“Elecam”), said voters must be duly registered and present their national identity cards at polling stations from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. to receive a ballot.  However, some polling stations remained opened after official voting hours concluded because they only opened at 4 p.m.  Voters also did not vote because they could not locate their polling station or their names were not listed on the voter list.  Other voters chose not to vote because the ballot was skewed widely towards Mr. Biya.

Government officials deny the fraud speculations.  Mr. Biya said, “The world is not a perfect place, but let’s be positive, for there has been no intention of fraud.  We’re for transparency and free elections.”

Without high voter turnout and a single opposition candidate, many people expect a Mr. Biya victory.  The opposition parties argue the government restricted their campaigns by limiting their funding and media airtime.  Previous presidential candidates, former government officials, and two women composed Mr. Biya’s opposing candidate pool.

Approximately 7.5 million people registered to vote, but less than 40% of these eligible voters participated in the election.  Cameroon also installed 79 voting stations in 33 countries for the 25,578 voters living overseas.

For example, a man carried 21 voter cards at the Mbangum market in the northwest regional capitol.  The polling station did not allow him to vote because they lost the voter list.  They eventually found the list in the man’s bag.

For further information, please see:

Africa Review – Cameroon Vote Count Starts as Paul Biya Poised for Win – 10 Oct 2011

Atlanta Journal-Constitution – 2 Troops Killed in Cameroon on Election Day – 10 Oct 2011

BBC – Cameroon Election: SDF Accuse Paul Biya’s CPDM of Fraud – 10 Oct 2011

Business Ghana – Cameroon Incumbent President Paul Biya Certain for Another Term – 10 Oct 2011