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US and the Democratic Process in Cameroon from 1990 to 2013

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Global Perspectives on US Democratization Efforts

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Abstract

Samuel Huntington’s “Democracy’s third wave” reached Cameroon in 1990 as it was obliged to follow the Western democratic road of political development. That was a difficult task since the political system had to undergo deep reforms in a difficult context characterized by the opposition to political change of many regimes in the region. External pressure had been exercised before 1990 and its continuation was required to ensure change was brought about. The USA, being a leading democratic country in the West, was one of the most important states to mount that pressure. This chapter examines the contribution the USA made to the development of the democratic process in Cameroon through an analysis of the different actions undertaken throughout this period.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Martin Dieudonné Ebolo, “L’implication des puissances occidentales dans le processus de démocratisation en Afrique : analyse des actions américaines et françaises au Cameroun (1989–1997)”, African Journal of Political Science, Vol. 4, No 2, 1999, p. 46–88; Jean Marcel Ilunga Katamba, “L’implication de la communauté internationale dans le processus de démocratisation en Afrique. Le cas du Cameroun”, Bachelor degree dissertation, University of Kinshasa, 2004. http://www.memoireonline.com/07/08/1242/m_implication-communaute-internationale-processus-democratisation-afrique-cameroun0.html [accessed January 10, 2015].

  2. 2.

    Robert Dossou, “L’expérience béninoise de la conférence nationale”, paper presented at the conference Bilan des conférences nationales et autres processus de transition démocratique, Cotonou, February 19–23, 2000.

  3. 3.

    Zacharie Ngniman, Cameroun la démocratie emballée, Yaoundé, Editions CLE, 1993 p. 46; Andreas Mehler, “Cameroun : une transition qui n’a pas eu lieu”, in Jean-Pascal Daloz and Patrick Quantin (eds.), Transition démocratiques africaines. Dynamiques et contraintes (1990–1994), Paris, Karthala, p. 97; Luc Sindjoun, “Le Président de la République du Cameroun à l’preuve de l’alternance néo-patrimoniale et de la “transition démocratique”, in Diop, M-C et Diouf, M. (eds), Les figures du politique en Afrique. Des pouvoirs hérités aux pouvoirs élus, Paris/Dakar, Karthala/Codesria, 1999, p. 86; Francine Bitée, La transition démocratique au Cameroun de 1990 à 2004, Paris, L’Harmattan, pp. 58–59. The eight others were : Anicet Ekanè, Albert Mukong, Francis Kwa Moutomè, Roudolphe Bwanga, Vincent Feko, Amani, Mrs Badjè, Henriette Ekwè, and Charles René Djon Djoce.

  4. 4.

    Andreas Mehler, Op. Cit., p. 97.

  5. 5.

    Ibid., p. 98.

  6. 6.

    Francine Bitée, Op.Cit., p.53.

  7. 7.

    David Mokam, “The search for a Cameroonian model of democracy or the search for the domination of the State Party: 1996–2006”, Cadernos de Estudos Africanos, No. 23, 2012, pp. 85–108.

  8. 8.

    Laurean Mbapndah Ajong, “Cameroon: Democracy at Crossroads”, 2004. www.monitor.upeace.org/pdf/Cameroon.pdf [accessed January 14, 2015].

  9. 9.

    Jean Marcel Ilunga Katamba, Op. Cit.

  10. 10.

    Fréderic Leriche, “La politique africaine des Etats-Unis : une mise en perspective”, Afrique Contemporaine 2003/3, No. 207. www.cairn.info/revue-afrique-contemporaine-2003-3-page-7.htm [accessed January 6, 2015].

  11. 11.

    Alain Cyr Pangop, “L’ambassadeur des Etats-Unis passe le Cameroun au scanner”. http://www.focacom.com/index.php/actualites/item/218-l%E2%80%99ambassadeur-des-%C3%A9tats-unis-passe-le-cameroun-au-scanner-et-propose [accessed January 10, 2015].

  12. 12.

    Jean Marcel Ilunga Katamba, Op. Cit.

  13. 13.

    Paul Eric Batchom, “La politique américaine de promotion de la démocratie au Cameroun après le 11 septembre 2001” Master Dissertation in political science, University of Yaoundé II, 2006. http://www.memoireonline.com/07/07/517/m_politique-americaine-promotion-democratie-cameroun-apres-11-sep0.html, [accessed January 2, 2015].

  14. 14.

    Frédéric Leriche, Op. Cit.

  15. 15.

    Paul Eric Batchom, Op. Cit.

  16. 16.

    Babacar Ngueye, “La démocratie en Afrique: succès et résistances”, Pouvoirs, No. 129, 2009, p. 25.

  17. 17.

    Robert P. Jackson, “Democracy and the Role of Civil Society. The Electoral Process in Cameroon: where are the Lessons” Digital video conference between Yaoundé and Washington DC, 2011. http://yaounde.usembassy.org/sp_10192011.html [accessed January 5, 2015].

  18. 18.

    Martin Dieudonné Ebolo, “Nationalisme gouvernemental et pressions extérieures dans le contexte de démocratisation : le cas du Cameroun”, Polis/Revue camerounaise de science politique, Vol. 1, No. spécial, 1996. http://www.polis.sciencespobordeaux.fr/vol1ns/article4.html [accessed January 11, 2015].

  19. 19.

    Pierre Englebert, “Cameroon: background to a crisis”, CSIS Africa Notes, No. 130, November, 1991, p. 8.

  20. 20.

    Martin Dieudonné Ebolo, “L’implication des puissances occidentales…”, Op. Cit., p. 55.

  21. 21.

    Ibid., p. 54.

  22. 22.

    Ibid., p. 52; Jean Marcel Ilunga Katamba, Op. Cit.

  23. 23.

    Martin Dieudonné Ebolo, “L’implication des puissances occidentales…”, p. 53.

  24. 24.

    Paul Eric Batchom, Op. Cit.

  25. 25.

    National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI), An assessment of the October 11, 1992 Election in Cameroon, 1993; Christopher Fomonyoh, “L’ONEL ne peut organizer des elections credible”, interview, http://www.tffcam.org/press/lemessager_07_2001.htm[accessed January 10, 2015].

  26. 26.

    NDI, Op. Cit. This section of the chapter is indebted to this source for much of its data.

  27. 27.

    NDI, Democratization in Cameroon, International Delegation Report, October 1991, p. 4.

  28. 28.

    Ibid., p. 11.

  29. 29.

    This is confirmed by Charles Fonchingong who reported that prior to the presidential election, all the governors summoned in Yaoundé were instructed to ensure that at least 60% of the votes were for President Biya in their respective provinces. See Charles C. Fonchingong, “The Travails of Democratization in Cameroon in the Context of Political Liberalization since the 1990s”, African and Asian Studies, Vol. 3, No. 1, 2004, p. 41.

  30. 30.

    NDI, Op. Cit., pp. 3–4.

  31. 31.

    Martin Dieudonné Ebolo, “L’implication des puissances occidentales…”, p. 66.

  32. 32.

    Marc Yared, “Frances Cook, ambassadeur tout-terrain”, Jeune Afrique No. 1660/1661 October 29–November 11, 1992, p. 8.

  33. 33.

    Yves-Alexandre Chouala, “L’action internationale de l’opposition : la transnationalisation de la vie internationale camerounaise”, in Luc Sindjoun (ed.), Comment peut-on être opposant au Cameroun ? Politique parlementaire et politique autoritaire, Dakar, Codesria, 2003, p. 312.

  34. 34.

    Martin Dieudonné Ebolo, Op. Cit.

  35. 35.

    Ibid.

  36. 36.

    Paul Eric Batchom, Op. Cit.

  37. 37.

    Cameroon Tribune, “Retour annoncé de USAID”, 2012. https://www.cameroon-tribune.cm/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=68070:retour-annonce-de-usaid&catid=1:politique&Itemid=3#contenu [accessed February 27, 2015].

  38. 38.

    Paul Eric Batchom, Op. Cit.

  39. 39.

    Claude Tadjon, “Lutte contre la corruption, démocratie, droits de l’homme…les ambassadeurs de États-Unis et le Cameroun de Paul Biya”, 2013. http://www.camer.be/index1.php?art=28518rub=6:1 [accessed 19 April, 2014].

  40. 40.

    Robert P. Jackson, Op. Cit.

  41. 41.

    Ibid.

  42. 42.

    Hillary Clinton, “Remarks at the Launch of Strategic Dialogue with Civil Society”, Washington, D.C., February 16, 2011. http://www.state.gov/secretary/20092013clinton/rm/2011/02/156681.htm [accessed 19 April, 2014].

  43. 43.

    Ibid. In the case of Cameroon, this assertion holds true for the 2013 parliamentary election, which saw a sharp increase in female representatives elected to parliament. This was essentially attributed to the actions of the civil society in encouraging women to register on electoral rolls and to run as candidates.

  44. 44.

    Martin Dieudonné Ebolo, Op. Cit., p. 55.

  45. 45.

    Paul Eric Batchom, Op.Cit.

  46. 46.

    Ibid.; Laurean Mbapndah Ajong, Op. Cit.

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  1. University of Ngaoundéré, Ngaoundéré, Cameroon

    David Mokam

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  1. University of New South Wales , Canberra, Aust Capital Terr, Australia

    Sally Burt

  2. Guanajuato, Gto. Col. Centro, Universidad de Guanajuato Guanajuato, Gto. Col. Centro, Mexico, Guanajuato, Mexico

    Daniel Añorve Añorve

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Mokam, D. (2016). US and the Democratic Process in Cameroon from 1990 to 2013. In: Burt, S., Añorve, D. (eds) Global Perspectives on US Democratization Efforts. Palgrave Macmillan, New York. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-58984-2_5

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