Cameroon’s population count extended amid civil society concerns

The fourth national recensement au Cameroun is currently navigating a period of significant challenges. Originally slated for completion on May 29, the extensive population and housing enumeration exercise received a two-month extension, mandated by a decree signed by Prime Minister Joseph Dion Ngute. This decision, however, has not eased mounting tensions; instead, it has intensified criticism from segments of civil society, which points to organizational shortcomings in what should be a fundamental statistical undertaking for shaping public policies.

Philippe Nanga, coordinator for the non-governmental organization Un Monde Avenir, expressed strong disapproval, describing the process as a “general cacophony.” He emphasized the critical nature of this undertaking for national planning. Nanga highlighted a telling example of the logistical disarray: in Douala, the nation’s economic hub, census agents reportedly abandoned their duties after just ten days in the field, citing a complete lack of remuneration.

A strategic statistical operation faces significant strain

For any nation, a comprehensive census serves as the bedrock of public administration. It directly influences electoral redistricting, the allocation of budgetary resources to local authorities, the scale of educational and healthcare infrastructure, and the credibility of macroeconomic projections. Cameroon, whose last official population count dates back to 2005, has long grappled with a scarcity of up-to-date demographic data. Consequently, the stakes for this fourth edition extended far beyond mere numerical updates.

The two-month extension implicitly reveals the extent of the difficulties encountered on the ground. Challenges have accumulated since the operation’s inception, including incomplete coverage of rural areas, delays in material delivery, and insufficient training for some enumerators. The social unrest initiated by agents in Douala further underscores a more systemic vulnerability: issues within the payment chain and the management of human resources deployed for such a large-scale project.

Civil society monitors a vital national process

Philippe Nanga, through Un Monde Avenir, represents a segment of Cameroonian civil society organizations that meticulously scrutinize major institutional processes. His public statements aim not to discredit the census itself, but rather to demand accountability regarding its execution. Underlying this critique is a fundamental question: will the results produced under these conditions be statistically reliable and politically indisputable? This query is particularly pertinent in a nation where disputes over official figures, whether demographic or electoral, are a recurring feature of its political landscape.

While the prime minister’s decreed extension theoretically provides an opportunity for recovery, it hinges on the availability of adequate financial resources. Observational NGOs are cautioning that a hurried or poorly executed operation could ultimately yield only a partial snapshot of the Cameroonian population. Moreover, international donors, such as the World Bank and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), which traditionally support such exercises across the continent, are also closely monitoring the methodological rigor of national enumerations.

A call for improved African governance and transparency

Beyond Cameroon’s specific situation, this debate highlights a common challenge for several Francophone African states: conducting exhaustive censuses in contexts marked by tight budgetary constraints, difficult-to-access territories, and security challenges in certain regions. Cameroon’s previous census in 2005 also experienced successive delays before its final results were published in 2010. Two decades later, the country continues to struggle with maintaining feasible timelines for its statistical operations.

Nevertheless, Philippe Nanga’s public intervention could significantly impact the ongoing public debate as the extended deadline approaches. Authorities are expected to demonstrate transparency in the process, regularize outstanding payments owed to field agents, and communicate intermediate indicators. Failure to do so risks the fourth census being remembered in Cameroon’s administrative history more for its operational shortcomings than for its scientific contributions to African governance.