Cameroon elections marred by violence and boycotts

Sunday’s long-delayed parliamentary and local elections in Cameroon were marred by violence and poor voter turnout, reports indicate. 

Clashes between separatist and government forces were reported in the town of Muyuka in the country’s Southwest Province. Witnesses also reported hearing gunfire in the cities of Buea and Kumba. 

The opposition MRC party refused to field candidates and has called for a boycott of the elections. The party’s leader, Maurice Kamto, was jailed for nine months after losing the 2018 presidential election and now lives abroad. 

The English-speaking Southwest region has been the site of violent unrest since 2017, with separatists fighting against the majority French-speaking government for control of an independent territory known as Ambazonia.

Earlier in the week, separatist fighters in the anglophone heartlands ordered a lockdown, causing some residents to flee their homes for fear of conflict between militants and government forces.

There was less disruption to voting in the country’s French-speaking regions, however AFP news agency said there were no crowds outside several polling stations in the nation’s capital, Yaoundé.

Polls closed at 18:00 local time and official results are expected within two weeks.

Commentators say there is no chance of President Paul Biya’s RDPC party losing control.

Photo: AFP