Constitutional democracy and electoral processes in Africa: The case of Cameroon

This chapter examines constitutional democracy and electoral processes in Africa through the lens of Cameroon. It interrogates the robustness of the institutions tasked with safeguarding constitutional democracy, particularly their capacity to ensure fair, transparent, and credible elections that enable the peaceful transfer of power between political parties. While Cameroon has formally embraced constitutionalism, the chapter argues that its electoral processes remain largely ineffective, thereby impeding meaningful democratic consolidation. The analysis explores electoral legislation, the independence of electoral management bodies, the role of electoral tribunals, and the conduct of diplomatic missions during election periods. The findings reveal that, in practice, existing legal frameworks have failed to secure the institutional integrity and independence of both the Electoral Commission and the Constitutional Council, which are responsible for overseeing elections. In addition, the significant influence of the Ministry of Territorial Administration over the Electoral Commission, and the exclusion of Anglophone Cameroonians, the near-exclusion of the Cameroonian diaspora, and other vulnerable groups from effective participation in the electoral process collectively exacerbate electoral malpractice. These structural deficiencies often contribute to political instability. The chapter concludes that an inclusive and comprehensive digitalisation of the electoral process could significantly enhance transparency, strengthen institutional accountability, and promote electoral credibility, thereby contributing to greater political stability and democratic consolidation in Cameroon.