Cameroon: Legislative and municipal elections set for February 9 2020

Event

Legislative and municipal elections will be held throughout Cameroon on Sunday, February 9, 2020. One opposition party, Cameroon Renaissance Movement (MRC), announced it that it will boycott the election, denouncing a partisan electoral code, which it said would only favor the ruling Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (CPDM) party. Another opposition party, Social Democratic Front (SDF), has announced that its participation is conditional on the resolution of the ongoing crisis in the English-speaking regions, and asked for a proper peace process to be held before February 9, 2020.

Heightened security measures and traffic disruptions should be anticipated around polling sites and at any political gatherings. Clashes between supporters of different political parties, as well as associated arrests, cannot be ruled out.

Context

Maurice Kamto from the MRC won 14 percent of the vote in the October 2018 presidential elections, placing second after incumbent President Paul Biya. Kamto rejected the results, denouncing alleged electoral irregularities, and declared himself the official winner, leading to mass protests. He was charged with sedition, insurrection, inciting violence, and hostility, and was subsequently jailed from January 28 to October 5, 2019.

Advice

Individuals in Cameroon are advised to monitor developments to the situation, avoid all protests or large gatherings due to the risk of associated violence, and adhere to instructions issued by the local authorities.