Voter registration ends in Cameroon as polls near

The voter registration period for Cameroon’s 2024 elections has officially concluded. According to the Director of Elections, the registration deadline was set for Saturday, August 31, at 2:00 PM local time.

In the lead-up to the cutoff, major political parties intensified their efforts to encourage eligible voters to register, focusing on maximizing participation. Various strategies were employed, including door-to-door campaigns, distribution of leaflets, and extensive outreach through media and digital platforms, all aimed at ensuring that citizens aged 20 and older were registered.

By the end of the registration period, the electoral authority reported that over 7 million Cameroonians had signed up to vote.

In July, lawmakers in Cameroon approved a bill extending their mandate by one year, which postponed the legislative elections that were originally slated for early 2025.

President Paul Biya, who is 89 years old, is expected to run for re-election, facing off against prominent opposition leaders Maurice Kamto and Cabral Libii in the upcoming election.