Distrust of the Electoral Process in Cameroon Women

Most women and people with disabilities in Cameroon believe that the electoral system, central African country is as corrupt as the country prepares to choose a new president, according to research cited by the Kenya African reported on the review.

Only 16 percent of women and persons with disabilities in Cameroon believe in the electoral process is open, but only 32 per cent feel that the electoral process, it is necessary that the inquiry conducted by a local non-governmental organization (NGO) Women horizons, and sponsored by the European Union.

Women constitute 52 percent of Cameroon 20 million people and are concerned by the lack of education on the electoral management body and distrust of the process may be signs of a low rate of participation in the review upcoming presidential elections say.

Cameroon, which has been ruled since 1982 by President Paul Biya, is set to hold presidential elections in November, the first elections to be organized by Elections Cameroon (ELECAM), the country’s elections management body.

“Few women and handicapped persons are members of political parties and few still hold any positions of leadership in politics,” Ngantchou said.

The survey revealed just 58 percent of women interviewed knew of ELECAM. The head of the NGO attributed this to historical inequalities between men and women in Cameroon.

Several political parties, including the country’s largest party, the opposition Social Democratic Front (SDF), have criticized ELECAM saying it is not completely independent and is composed mainly of former senior members of the ruling party Biya, Cameroon Peoples Democratic Movement (cPDM).