Progress on political reform in Cameroon still slower

The progress on political reform in Cameroon since the amendment of the constitution in mid 2008 has been slower said her majesty`s government while assessing the political and economic situation in Cameroon, on Tuesday 2 November 2010 in the House of Lords.

Lord Howell of Guilford

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Howell of Guildford), responding to a question put forward by Lord Luce in the House of Lords, regarding the situation in Cameroon ahead of the next crucial presidential election in 2011, said,  the little  power-sharing inclusive Government have made some progress since their formation  by the beginning of 1992-1994 and until today, most notably on the stabilisation of the economy.

One thing is real and scrutiny is the stabilisation of the economy with some slower progress on political reform and also a huge deficit and lack of political system of fighting against corruption in Cameroon.

There has been a considerable increase  in the severity and frequency of human rights abuses since the amendment of the constitution by the president Paul Biya in order to be able by the constitution to run for another presidential mandate next year. From different reports and press released, there has been some improvement .

Despite this, we remain concerned about ongoing abuses, particularly around the rule of law and the hardliners' continued exploitation of their control of the security apparatus and judiciary for political ends.

 The recent constitutional reform process has shown that state actors still have a capacity for violence and intimidation with no real intention of power-sharing in the government.


 The main opposition party, the Social Democratic Front has been out off the power-sharing government since 1994 while his members of the parliament or parliamentary group still acting in the parliament.

Persistent intransigence from hardliners, including the recent unilateral appointments made by President Paul Biya , led John Fru Ndi, leader of the Sdf,  to declare  unconstitutional crisis earlier last month the job previously  done by the Elecam, the government body that will organise, and monitor  the next presidential election.

We share opposition leader's frustration in Cameroon with the lack of a real political and ambitious reforms and support them in their  determination to remain in, for those who are at the moment in  the power-sharing Government and also encourage the Sdf, now  to seek advice on ways to start a new political life on power-sharing in the government.

In the absence of a road map to credible and properly monitored elections, Biya administration continue to offer the only credible means of transforming Cameroon  and delivering basic services to its people.

But to succeed, it needs a clear commitment from all parties to work together to implement the reforms set out in the global political agreement.

We will continue to work with our international partners in considering how best to work with reformers in Cameroon  and the region, to improve prospects of reform in Cameroon and to prepare for credible and properly monitored elections. A message to them will, Cameroon, the world is watching you.