Threads of Memory: Cameroon’s Story at the Ballot Box

Stitching Together Our Democratic Past and Future

As Cameroonians head to the polls today, it’s a good time to look at how far we’ve come. Our country’s electoral history is not just about politics—it’s about ordinary people stepping up to shape their future. Let’s celebrate key moments, honest struggles, and a few eye-opening statistics that show how our democratic journey is still unfolding.

Snapshots and Stats: 60+ Years of Elections

• Over 8.2 million Cameroonians are registered to vote from a population of about 28 million.[1]

• Cameroon has held seven presidential elections since independence in 1960.[2][1]

• In the historic 1992 multi-party contest, President Paul Biya won (40%) by just 4% against Fru Ndi (36%).[3]

• While the national turnout averages around 70%, some regions—especially Anglophone ones—see much lower participation (just 16% in 2018), showing how unique regional stories still shape our democracy.[4][1]

The Beginning: Independence and First Choices 🎉

Picture May 1960. Cameroon is newly independent. Ahmadou Ahidjo becomes the first president—chosen by Cameroonians in their country’s very first presidential election. For many people, this was more than just voting. It was stepping out from under colonial rule and choosing a leader for their own nation. The excitement, pride, and uncertainty—these feelings remain the foundation of our democratic culture.[5][6][7][8][2]

Joining Together: The 1961 Unification Vote 🤝

Just a year later, Southern Cameroons faced a big decision. In the 1961 UN-backed plebiscite, locals had to choose: join Nigeria or unite with the Republic of Cameroon? Over 70% voted for unity, creating our current federated nation. This wasn’t just about politics—it was choosing identity and destiny as Cameroonians.[9][10][2]

Big Change: 1992 and Multi-Party Politics 🔥

Fast-forward to October 11, 1992. For the first time, Cameroonians saw genuine competition at the polls, with more than one name on the ballot. This multi-party election marked the end of decades of one-party dominance and started a new era of choice and debate. Regional diversity shone through—different communities supported different candidates, showing a rich mosaic of voices. Yet, the process wasn’t perfect. Many worried about fairness and transparency, and election observers have pointed out issues ever since.[11][12][13][14][15]

Growing Civic Participation 🧑‍🤝‍🧑🌱

Since the 1990s, Cameroon’s elections have become more regular and open, letting more people—especially women and youth—take part as voters, monitors, and candidates. New technologies like biometric registration and international observers help make things clearer, even if problems remain. Each election, big or small, includes more Cameroonian voices—this is real progress one step at a time.[15][2]

Is Democracy Too Slow? A Global Perspective 🌍⏳

Some Cameroonians wonder: “Is democracy taking too long? Is it working at all?” This isn’t just our question—many nations have faced slow progress and long waits for real change. Here are two stories from across the world:

India 🇮🇳:
India’s democracy began in 1947 but took decades to truly work for everyone. There were tough years, even times when basic freedoms were suspended (like during “The Emergency,” 1975–77). Yet, by staying engaged and making small reforms, Indian voters slowly built strong institutions. Only after many decades did big, positive changes arrive—showing ordinary people’s actions add up.[16][17][18]

Spain 🇪🇸:
Spain spent much of the 20th century under dictatorship. When democracy finally began in 1975, it didn’t happen overnight. Instead, Spain’s leaders and citizens took it step by step—first a referendum, then a new constitution in 1978. Only after years of trying did Spain become a stable democracy, reminding us that patience and hope matter.[19][20][21]

Taking the Long View: Small Steps, Big History 🕰️⚡

Looking back six decades, Cameroon’s elections show a slow but steady building of civic culture. The early years gave us our first taste of self-determination, while 1992 introduced real choice. Each election since has brought new lessons and new voices. Our democracy is a process, not a quick fix—a journey shared by many nations before us.[22][2]

Today’s Vote: A Continuing Story 📖🗳️

As Cameroonians vote today, each ballot adds a thread to our national story. Our journey has been marked by bold decisions, setbacks, and stories passed from generation to generation. Remember—what feels slow or difficult now is often laying the groundwork for breakthroughs yet to come.

Whether voting for the first time or recalling stories from parents and grandparents, know that every act of participation is part of Cameroon’s democratic heritage. Elections may not solve all problems, but they bring us closer—one step at a time—to a more engaged, united nation.

Let’s keep walking forward with hope! 🌱🇨🇴✨

Sources

1. Election Guide, Cameroon: https://www.electionguide.org/countries/id/38/

2. Egwim Foundation, The History of the Cameroon General Election: https://egwimfoundation.org/the-history-of-the-cameroon-general-election/

3. Africanews, Cameroon Presidential Elections - Biya’s Record in Multi-Party Era: https://www.africanews.com/2018/09/18/cameroon-presidential-elections-biya-s-record-in-multi-party-era/

4. RSIS International, The Anglophone Crisis and Low Voter Turnout in Anglophone Cameroon in the 2018 Presidential Elections: https://rsisinternational.org/journals/ijriss/articles/the-anglophone-crisis-and-low-voter-turnout-in-anglophone-cameroon-in-the-2018-presidential-elections/

5. Wikipedia, Ahmadou Ahidjo: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahmadou_Ahidjo

6. Britannica, Ahmadou Ahidjo: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ahmadou_Ahidjo

7. Presidency of Cameroon, The First President: https://www.prc.cm/en/the-president/the-first-president

8. Kiddle, Ahmadou Ahidjo: https://kids.kiddle.co/Ahmadou_Ahidjo

9. UK Parliament, Historic Hansard, The Cameroons: https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1961/feb/20/the-cameroons

10. Wikipedia, 1961 British Cameroons Referendum: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1961_British_Cameroons_referendum

11. Wikipedia, 1992 Cameroonian Presidential Election: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1992_Cameroonian_presidential_election

12. ACE Project, Case Study Cameroon: https://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/africa/CM/case-study-cameroon.doc

13. Systemic Peace, Polity5 Cameroon 2018: https://www.systemicpeace.org/polity/P5Cameroon2018.pdf

14. EISA, Election Management Cameroon - Progress, Problems, Prospects: https://www.eisa.org/storage/2023/05/2006-journal-of-african-elections-v5n1-election-management-cameroon-progress-problems-prospects-eisa.pdf

15. OnPolicy, Electoral Fraud and the Weakening of Cameroonian Democracy: https://onpolicy.org/electoral-fraud-and-ahe-weakening-of-cameroonian-democracy/

16. Wikipedia, The Emergency (India): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Emergency_(India)

17. Journal of Democracy, Why India’s Democracy Is Dying: https://www.journalofdemocracy.org/articles/why-indias-democracy-is-dying/

18. Journal of Democracy, India’s Unlikely Democracy: Six Decades of Independence: https://www.journalofdemocracy.org/articles/indias-unlikely-democracy-six-decades-of-independence/

19. Wikipedia, Spanish Transition to Democracy: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_transition_to_democracy

20. Syracuse University, Chronos, Spanish Transition: https://surface.syr.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1135&context=chronos

21. Pluralism, Spanish Transition Forty Years Later: https://www.pluralism.ca/resource/spanish-transition-forty-year-later-paper/

22. Wikipedia, Elections in Cameroon: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elections_in_Cameroon