Vote counting is underway in Cameroon after citizens went to the polls on Sunday to elect their next president. Polling stations across the country closed at 6 p.m. local time following a day of generally calm voting, according to election officials.
More than eight million registered voters were eligible to cast their ballots in what observers described as a crucial election for the Central African nation, which has faced growing political and security challenges in recent years.
Elections Cameroon, the national electoral body, said the voting process proceeded “peacefully overall,” with only minor logistical delays reported in some areas.
Security Measures in the Anglophone Regions
In the Northwest and Southwest regions—Cameroon’s English-speaking areas—authorities deployed extra security forces to secure polling stations. Separatist groups seeking independence had earlier warned they would attempt to disrupt the vote.
Despite isolated tensions, officials confirmed that polling was completed in most districts, though voter turnout appeared lower in some conflict-affected communities.
Awaiting the Official Results
Cameroon’s Electoral Code stipulates that the Constitutional Council must declare the official results within 15 days of the vote. The election is conducted in a single round, meaning the candidate with the highest number of votes automatically wins the presidency.
Political analysts say this vote could mark a defining moment for the country’s future amid calls for political reform, decentralization, and peace in the Anglophone regions.
Background and Expectations
The election follows months of campaigning across Cameroon’s ten regions, where candidates pledged to address economic hardships, unemployment, and insecurity. Many citizens say they hope the next government will bring stability and improve living conditions.
As ballot boxes are opened and votes tallied in local centers across Yaoundé and beyond, Cameroonians now await the final results that will determine who leads the nation for the next term.