wfn.org | [AACC} Cameroon Presbyterian Demand Free and Fair Elections

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All Africa Conference of Churches
www.aacc-ceta.org
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Nairobi, Kenya

PRESS RELEASE

OPPOSITION DISUNITY AS CAMEROON PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS NEAR

By Akinyi Lucy Ogot

NAIROBI, October 8 - The Presbyterian Church in Cameroon (PCC) has 
condemned the use of violence instead of dialogue in the political process 
as they get ready for presidential elections.  In a letter read to all 
congregations of the PCC early this month, the church leaders urged the 
perpetrators of evil to stop or they will be exposed to the laws of the 
land if identified.  Presidential elections in Cameroon are scheduled to 
take place on October 11, 2004.

The letter availed to the All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC) signed 
by the Moderator and Synod Clerk of PCC, Rev. Dr. Nyansako-Ni-Nku, also 
president of the AACC and Rev. Festus Ambe Asana respectively, expressed 
concern over the political temperature that is climbing higher and the 
rhetoric from politicians on the campaign trail as the presidential 
elections draw near.  Allegations of politically motivated killings are 
also disturbing .

The letter further states that as a Church, we have a divine responsibility 
to work for peace and reconciliation and that Christians are always 
prisoners of hope .

The letter demands free and fair elections so that Cameroonians would be 
happy to register for the elections and proceed to choose their president 
in a transparent manner and without fear or favour .  Their desire is that 
the entire process should contribute to the growth of their nation in 
democratic governance.

In an interview with Rev. Dr. Nku, we learnt that the churches in Cameroon 
have done all within their reach and means to inform the voters.  They have 
held civic education, have preached the importance of having peaceful 
elections, embarked on advocacy work, have been involved in election 
monitoring and providing care to the political elite.  The churches have 
also been encouraging citizens to register as voters.  Voter registration 
has been very poor as people believe the elections will be rigged like in 
the past.

Cameroon, a country with a population of 16 million has only about 4 
million registered voters due to voter apathy.	The majority of 
Cameroonians want change.  They are sick and tired of corruption, misrule 
and rigged elections.  The current President, Paul Biya, who is 71 years 
old, has been in power for the last 22 years.  He has confirmed that he 
will stand again for presidency for another seven year term.

The Cameroon s People s Democratic Movement (CPDM) party of which Biya 
belongs has been in power since independence, 1961, from the French and 
British colonies.  The divide between French and British colonies has also 
left the country linguistically divided. Anglophone Cameroon forms 20 per 
cent of the population and is quite neglected.	Their wish is to be more 
autonomous and to see some development programmes and projects in their 
region.  The divide also affects the trend of elections.

Currently presidential opposition candidates total 16.	Social Democratic 
Front (SDF) is the largest opposition party in parliament and its leader, 
John Fru Ndi, 63 years old, has confirmed that he will stand this time 
after boycotting the 1997 elections accusing President Biya of rigging the 
1992 elections.  Ndi was the closest opponent to beating Biya in the first 
multi party elections in 1992.	Paul Biya garnered 39 per cent against Fru 
Ndi s 35 per cent in the 1992 elections.

Dr. Nku confirmed to us in an interview that meanwhile, a coalition of 10 
main opposition parties dubbed the Coalition for National Reconciliation 
and Reconstruction (CNRR) broke down after failing to agree on a unique 
candidate, thus dashing hopes of many Cameroonians who thought a single 
opposition candidate could beat the incumbent.	Two other major opposition 
parties, the Union of the Populations of Cameroon (UPC) and the National 
Union for Democracy and Progress (UNDP) did not field any candidates.  They 
had been co-opted into the government by President Biya.  Now they are part 
of what has been christened the Presidential Majority .

Dr. Nku further confirmed that Biya's main challenge will come from Adamu 
Ndam Njoya and John Fru Ndi, both of whom failed to agree on a single 
candidate for the coalition.

The elections will be monitored by the local churches, the Francophonie, 
the Commonwealth, independent NGOs from within and without Cameroon.

For further information, please contact:

Communication Department of the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon
Email address:	pcc_modoffice19@yahoo.com
P. O. Box 19,
BUEA,
Cameroon