Cameroon
Cameroon exhibits low-range performance across three categories of the Global State of Democracy framework: Representation, Rights and Rule of Law; it performs in the mid-range in Participation. It among the bottom 25 per cent of countries with regard to most factors of democracy. Over the past five years, Cameroon has not experienced any significant advances or declines. It is classified as a lower-middle income country and has a diversified economy, which includes agriculture, mining, services, and production of oil and gas, timber and aluminium. Crude oil is its largest export.
Cameroon’s history traces back at least 50,000 years and in the pre-colonial period its political landscape evolved from kinship-based communities to centralized states like the Bamum. Cameroon was colonized by Germany in 1884, then partitioned between France and Britain after World War I. Gaining independence in 1960 and 1961 respectively, the two regions re-united in 1961.
Post-independence, its history has been dominated by the Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (CPDM) under President Paul Biya, who has been in power since 1982. Over the past four decades, Biya has used constitutional and electoral manipulation, co-optation of opponents, political patronage and the development of a robust and loyal state security and intelligence apparatus to gradually assert virtually total control of the political landscape.
Since 2018, the regime has become increasingly authoritarian, a trend marked by state security agencies’ repression of perceived political opponents, especially sympathisers of Anglophone separatist groups. Activists are routinely arrested, prosecuted and abused within a corrupt justice system that lacks independence and heavily restricts civil liberties. Opposition movements are institutionally weak, and split into more than 150 parties that are divided by ethnic, linguistic and regional identities, ideological differences, personal rivalries and government actions that encourage competition and stymie co-operation.
Cameroon is an ethnically diverse country, home to almost 250 ethnic groups. Despite Biya’s multi-ethnic coalition that incorporates most ethnic groups into the ruling framework, he is accused of using his extensive discretionary powers to appoint members of his native Beti-Bulu ethnic group to key positions. Language is a more significant political cleavage than ethnicity, and Cameroon’s English-speaking regions in the northwest and southwest are opposed to the state’s abolition of the previous federal system. Longstanding perceptions of multifaceted discrimination toward Anglophones led to calls for independence, which sparked the outbreak of an ongoing conflict between Anglophone separatist groups and the army in 2016.
Cameroon performs at the mid-range on Gender Equality and, despite legal protections, women continue to face discrimination, with high levels of gender-based violence and lower literacy and labour force participation rates than their male compatriots. The LGBTQIA+ community faces violence, arbitrary detention, and a continued ban on same-sex activity.
Biya’s succession is the country’s most significant near-term political issue. His current mandate is set to finish in 2025. He has not chosen a successor and open lobbying to replace him is taboo within the CPDM. Amid growing speculation about his absence in public, media coverage of Biya’s health was formally prohibited. In parallel, signs suggest civic space has continued to narrow: civil society organisations have faced bans and suspensions, and the delay of national and municipal elections to 2026 was conceived by some as a strategic effort to limit opposition access to the presidential ballot. These parallel developments stress the need to closely monitor the Rights and Participation factors in the near-term.
Last updated: May 2025
https://www.idea.int/democracytracker/
April 2026
Judicial proceedings against rights defender reopened amid concerns over civic space
On 6 April, the Douala-Bonanjo Court of First Instance reopened judicial proceedings against prominent human rights defender Maximilienne Ngo Mbe. The reopening occurred after both the prosecution and defence had already presented their cases in a trial linked to her opposition to the administrative sealing of the offices of the Central Africa Human Rights Defenders Network (REDHAC). The decision came after a request by a state representative to introduce additional evidence, despite earlier hearings having concluded and deliberations reportedly expected. Critics argued that reopening the case at such a late stage raised concerns about due process, legal certainty and judicial independence. Rights groups also linked the case to a broader pattern of pressure on civil society actors, noting that Ngo Mbe has faced threats and legal challenges connected to her human rights advocacy. The reopening of the case will cause further delays to the judicial proceedings and suggests that the authorities are deliberately prolonging the proceedings against Maximilienne Ngo Mbe.
Sources: Human Rights and Legal Research Centre; Frontline Defenders; Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
April 2026
Constitutional amendment redefining presidential succession is promulgated
On 14 April, Parliament approved and the President enacted a constitutional amendment that reintroduces an unelected office of Vice-President and alters the rules governing presidential succession. The amendment replaces the previous system under which the President of the Senate served as interim head of state and oversaw the organization of a new presidential election in the event of a vacancy. Under the new framework, the Vice-President will be appointed by the President and not confirmed by parliament and will automatically assume the presidency in the event of the death, resignation or incapacity of the head of state. Critics expressed concerns over repeated election postponements and increasing concentration of executive authority, given the longstanding public debate over presidential succession during the four-decade rule of President Paul Biya, whose advanced age and limited public appearances have intensified discussion about potential future leadership transitions.
Sources: Human Rights and Legal Research Centre; Presidency of the Republic of Cameroon; Constitution Net
March 2026
Parliament further extends its mandate amid election delays
On 23 March, the National Assembly voted to extend its mandate by nine months, from 31 March until 20 December 2026, in order to postpone parliamentary elections. It is the second postponement of the elections, which were originally scheduled to take place in 2025. Government authorities justified the measure as being necessary to align the electoral calendar and manage upcoming political processes. However, the decision raised concerns about electoral timeliness and democratic accountability, as citizens will continue to be represented by a parliament whose mandate has twice been prolonged, rather than renewed through elections.
Sources: Africa News; APA News; International IDEA; Africa 24
February 2026
Soldiers sentenced for killings in Anglophone region
On 19 February, a military court sentenced three soldiers to prison terms ranging from five to ten years for their role in the 2020 Homengarbuh massacre, in which at least 21 civilians, including women and children, were killed in the conflict-affected Northwest Region. The soldiers had been found guilty of murder, arson, and destruction of property. The convictions are notable because prosecutions of military personnel for crimes committed against civilians are rare in Cameroon, where rights groups have frequently raised concerns about impunity for abuses linked to the Anglophone conflict. However, observers and legal representatives criticized the sentences as insufficient and noted that no senior military officers were prosecuted, despite allegations that the soldiers were acting on the instructions from their superiors. Nevertheless, the case may strengthen access to justice by demonstrating that members of the armed forces can be investigated, prosecuted, and convicted for violations committed against civilians.
Sources: The Guardian Post; BBC; Africa News
See all event reports for this country
Global ranking per category of democratic performance in 2025
Basic Information
Human Rights Treaties
State party
Signatory
No action
Performance by category over the last 6 months
Global State of Democracy Indices
Hover over the trend lines to see the exact data points across the years
Factors of Democratic Performance Over Time
Use the slider below to see how democratic performance has changed over time
