2011 Cameroonian presidential election

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.

2011 Cameroonian presidential election
9 October 2011
Registered7,251,651
Turnout68.28%
 
Nominee Paul Biya John Fru Ndi
Party RDPC SDF
Popular vote 3,772,527 518,175
Percentage 77.99% 10.71%
President before election

Paul Biya
RDPC

 Elected President

Paul Biya
RDPC

Candidate Kah Walla casting her vote in Douala

Background

Some 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

Long-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

The 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
CandidatePartyVotes%
Paul BiyaCameroon People's Democratic Movement3,772,52777.99
John Fru NdiSocial Democratic Front518,17510.71
Garga Haman AdjiAlliance for Democracy and Development155,3483.21
Adamou Ndam NjoyaCameroon Democratic Union83,8601.73
Paul Abine AyahPeople's Action Party61,1581.26
Kah WallaCameroon People's Party34,6390.72
Albert DzongangDynamic for National Renaissance26,3960.55
Jean de Dieu MomoDemocrat Patriots for the Development of Cameroon23,7910.49
Jean-Jacques EkindiProgressive Movement21,5930.45
Bernard MunaAlliance of Progressive Forces18,4440.38
Esther DangBloc for the Reconstruction and Economic Independence of Cameroon15,7750.33
Olivier Anicet BiléUnion for Fraternity and Prosperity15,2020.31
Anicet EkaneAfrican Movement for New Independence and Democracy11,0810.23
Victorin Hameni BieuleuUnion of Democratic Forces of Cameroon10,6150.22
Fritz Pierre NgoMovement of Cameroonian Ecologists9,2590.19
Jean NjeungaUnited Front of Cameroon9,2190.19
Isaac FeuzeuMovement for the Emergence and Rise of Citizen9,2160.19
Hubert KamgangUnion of African Populations8,2500.17
Simon Pierre Atangana NsoeGreat Cameroon8,0320.17
Marcus LontouoCameroonian National Congress7,8750.16
George Dobgima NyamndiSocial Liberal Congress5,9250.12
Joachim Tabi OwonoAction for Meritocracy and Equal Opportunities5,7950.12
Daniel Soh FoneUnited Socialist Party5,0740.10
Total4,837,249100.00
Valid votes4,837,24997.69
Invalid/blank votes114,1852.31
Total votes4,951,434100.00
Registered voters/turnout7,251,65168.28
Source: African Elections Database

Aftermath

Biya was sworn in for another term as president in a ceremony held at the National Assembly on 3 November.[11]

References
  1. Scott Stearns, Some diaspora cleared to cast ballots in Cameroon election VOA News, 13 July 2011
  2. "Cameroon's Biya to seek re-election in October polls", Agence France-Presse, 4 September 2011.
  3. "Casalammmeroon leader, 51 others seek presidency", VOA News, 5 September 2011.
  4. Anne Look, "Cameroon's longtime leader to seek re-election in October", VOA News, 5 September 2011.
  5. "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.
  6. "Turnout Low in Cameroon Presidential Poll". Voice of America. 8 October 2011. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
  7. "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.
  8. 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.
  9. Fon Mndere (14 October 2011). "Inch'Allah Opposition delivers Cameroon to Biya on a Platter of silver". Afrik-News. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
  10. "Cameroon's Polls: Praised by International Observers; Condemned by Opposition". Voanews.com. 16 October 2011. Retrieved 6 November 2011.
  11. "Biya sworn in again vowing to 'transform' Cameroon", AFP, 3 November 2011.
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