2025 Presidential Elections: Reasons For The Low Voters’ Registration By Cameroonians In The Diaspora

There are many Cameroonians living in foreign countries, especially in countries like France and the United States, who are living there in an irregular situation

 President Biya promised the Cameroon Diaspora some years back that the controversial Law on double nationality will be reviewed. But so far, nothing has happened.

Voters’ registration and voting take place only at Cameroon embassies and consulates, and so are costly to Cameroonians that live in towns far away from these diplomatic missions

The first presidential election in Cameroon in which the diaspora participated, was in 2011. It was initially thought by many people in the country that there would be a lot of enthusiasm amongst the Cameroon diaspora to register and vote, and that the rate of voters registration as well as the rate of effective participation in the voting exercise, will be high. But that have so far not been the case. However a number of major reasons have been identified as being responsible for this situation.

The Issue Of Residence Permit

Whereas Cameroonians at home need just the National Identity Card to register on the voters’ list, those living outside to country have to present a number of documents besides their passports that identify them, before their names can get into the voters’ register.  The principal document besides a passport is the residence permit.  So besides one having to present the Cameroon passport which identifies somebody outside the country as a Cameroonian, the person also has to present a residence permit, to show that he living  in a regular situation,  or better still, that he is living legally in the country where he is based and wants  to be registered on the voters’ list. There is also the consular card which a Cameroonian obtains from the Cameroon Embassy or High Commission in the country where he is resident, which enables the Embassy, High commission or Consulate, to officially know the identity, the town of residence, and occupation of a Cameroonian living in that foreign country.

Non Documented Immigrants Or ‘Sans Papiers’

The big problem here is that quite a number of Cameroonians, just like the nationals of other several African countries, live in irregular situation in foreign countries, especially in Europe, the United States,   and some African countries. They for example do not have residence permits. All that many of them do have is just their passports.  Even in some neighbouring countries like Nigeria, there are thousands of Cameroonians living there without passports.  All thee  are the category of foreigners commonly known as non – documented immigrants in the United States, or  as ‘Sans Papiers’, in France, meaning that they do not have  the required papers or documents that permit them to live in those counties legally.

The several Cameroonians that fall in this category cannot go to a Cameroon Embassy, High Commission or Consulate in the country where they are based, to register on the voters’ list.  This is an issue that has raised a lot of heated arguments between many Cameroonians and the elections organizing body, Elections Cameroon (ELECAM), with the former arguing that a passport which is like an ID card for Cameroonians living outside the country, ought to be enough for any Cameroonian to register on the voters’ list.

Double Nationality

There is also the issue that  that there are quite a number Cameroonians by birth living outside the country, especially in Europe and the United States, that do have double nationality. Unfortunately the Cameroon Law makes a Cameroonian that has double nationality, looks like a foreigner in his own country of origin. This issue has frustrated many Cameroonians with double nationality living outside Cameroon, and has made them to lose interest in electoral matters in Cameroon. There have been repeated calls by several Cameroonians at home and abroad for the highly controversial Law that was instituted way back in 1968 or so, by the then President, Ahmadou Ahidjo, to be scrapped.  During an official visit by President Biya to France some 15 years ago, members of the Cameroon community that officially met with the President at a meeting in Paris, strongly raised the issue of the controversial Law on double nationality. The President promised that the Law will be reviewed. But so far, nothing has been dome.

High Cost For Many Cameroonians in Diaspora To Go And Register Or Vote.

There is also the issue of the high financial cost involved, for many Cameroonians living in foreign countries to have to go and register their names in the voters’ list, because voters’ registration or voting itself only takes place at Cameroon’s diplomatic missions in those countries, that is, either at the Cameroon Embassy (High Commission) or Consulate.  This is difficult or costly for Cameroonians that live in towns or areas far away from that country’s capital where the Embassy of High Commission is located,  or far from the nearest Cameroon Consulate. This will involve loosing much time as well as spending much money on transport, lodging (hotel), and so on. We take an example in neighboring Nigeria. A Cameroonian living in Enugu, Owerri or Onitsha, has to either travel to the Cameroon High Commission in Lagos or to the Cameroon Consulate in Calabar, to register on the voters’ list, and also have to travel there again to vote. As result, most Cameroonians in this situation do not register.

Political Activists Have The Tendency To Stay Away From Cameroon Diplomatic Missions

There is also the issue that Cameroonian political activists in foreign countries like members of the ‘Brigade Anti – Sardinards”, BAS, that are anti – Biya regime, have the tendency to avoid having anything to do with something link to the Biya or CPDM regime. Due to their hostility towards members of the regime, who to them include Ambassadors or High Commissioners, as well as the management of ELECAM, most political activists in the Diaspora stay away from the Cameroon Embassies or High Commissions, and also avoid elections organized by ELECAM. Many of the political activists do not also believe that change can come to Cameroon through elections organized by those they consider as members of the Biya regime.

Voters’ Registration And Voting Does Not Take Place In All Countries

We cannot also ignore the fact that so far, voters’ registration and voting at the presidential; elections, are not yet taking place in all the countries where Cameroon has diplomatic missions. At the 2018 presidential election for example, voters’ registration and voting took place in only 17 African counties, whereas Africa counts over 50 countries, and Cameroon has diplomatic missions in many of them.  As aforementioned, it was only at the 2011 presidential elections that Cameroonians, or better still some Cameroonians in Diaspora for the first time had the opportunity to register and vote at the presidential election back at home.

The elections organizing body, Elections Cameroon (ELECAM), is gradually increasing the number of foreign counties where Cameroon has diplomatic missions, on the list of foreign countries where voting can take place. It is a costly operation for the State, and so the Government makes the decision,   For example during voters’ registration that takes place at Cameroon diplomatic missions  in foreign countries, some ELECAM officials have to be put  on missions to those countries, for the exercise that is conducted and supervised by ELECAM.  Some ELECAM officials are also put on mission to those countries during the election proper (voting).

So Cameroonians living in foreign countries where Cameroon has diplomatic missions, but which have not yet been added to ELECAM’s list of foreign countries where voters’ registration or voting take place, cannot yet register on the voters’ list.