Commonwealth welcomes new election body for Cameroon

Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General Florence Mugasha has commended the Government of Cameroon for passing legislation to pave the way for the establishment of an independent electoral body, Elections Cameroon (ELECAM). 

In a statement issued at the end of a five-day official visit to Cameroon from 18 to 22 February 2007, the Deputy Secretary-General said she was "pleased that constructive engagement between the Government of Cameroon and the Commonwealth has brought about a positive outcome".

Mrs Mugasha also urged the government to appoint commissioners and give all necessary resources to ELECAM to carry out its mandate as soon as possible.

The Commonwealth's work in Cameroon is being facilitated by the Secretary-General's Special Envoy, former Canadian Prime Minister Joe Clark, within the framework of a Cameroon/Commonwealth Commission established by President Paul Biya in 2002.

The Commonwealth has been supporting Cameroon in implementing reforms designed to fulfil its obligations more effectively under the Harare Commonwealth Declaration, which promotes democracy. The reforms initiated by Cameroon involve election management, human rights, the rule of law and the judiciary, and decentralisation.

"The reforms can only engender greater public confidence in the fairness and transparency of the electoral process in Cameroon if significant steps are taken to put them in place in time to play a meaningful role in the organisation of the 2007 elections," said Mrs Mugasha.  It is expected that over the longer term ELECAM will take over all aspects of the elections process.

"It is with that in mind that the Commonwealth has made a number of proposals to the Government of Cameroon designed to further underpin the independence and effectiveness of Elections Cameroon in line with African, Commonwealth and international best practice for independent election management institutions," she added.

Mrs Mugasha was invited by the Government of Cameroon to discuss progress in its electoral preparations and to determine how the Commonwealth and other international partners could continue helping the country's reform programme.  

During her visit, the Deputy Secretary-General also met with Prime Minister Chief Ephraim Inoni and other senior members of government, political parties, civil society organisations, Commonwealth high commissioners and international partners.

Secretariat Links:

• Cameroon
• Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-Genera Florence Mugasha