SW ELECAM Regional Delegate evaluates voter registration.

The tour follows similar visits to Fako and Meme Divisions of the Region.

The tour follows the 2025 presidential and regional elections, which officials in the Region described as free, fair, and transparent with no major security incidents reported.

In Kupe-Muanenguba, the delegation paid courtesy visits to the Senior Divisional Officer, SDO, in Bangem and the Divisional Officer in Tombel. 

The SDO noted relative stability in Bangem town but highlighted security risks in rural areas, poor roads, and high transport costs. 

Active political parties in the area include Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement, CPDM; Social Democratic Front, SDF; Cameroon Renaissance Movement, MRC; Cameroonian Party for National Reconciliation, PCRN; National Union for Democracy and Progress, UNDP; and Popular Action Party, PAP.

An enlarged stakeholder meeting in Bangem, attended by 33 participants including administrators, the mayor, and party representatives, discussed low registration rates. 

Key barriers cited were difficulties obtaining National Identity Cards and birth certificates, poverty, impassable roads during the rainy season, and limited electricity and telecommunications coverage.

In Ndian, the delegation met the SDO in Mundemba, who reported ongoing insecurity in remote areas but noted a gradual return of displaced residents. Furthermore, he said movement relies heavily on sea transport due to poor roads, inflating costs. 

Working sessions with stakeholders in Bangem, Tombel, Mundemba, Toko, Kombo Itindi, Bamusso, Kombo Itindi and Isangele enabled officials to assess registration targets, card stocks, joint commission operations, and readiness for 2026 polls. Common challenges across the region include high transport costs, security concerns, and shortage of kit operators, voter apathy, and lack of local media for sensitisation. 

Technical sessions with Bangem and Tombel branches reviewed registration statistics, voter card distribution, list updates, material inventory, staff morale, and 2026 preparedness. The Region has added some 12, 244 voters to the vote registers with 2,330 vote cards distributed across the Region. 

The ELECAM Regional Delegate commended local staff efforts despite challenges and urged political parties to intensify voter mobilisation. 

He stressed ELECAM’s neutrality, while calling for stronger collaboration with the administration on security to cover remote areas.

Across both Divisions, the tour highlighted the need for better civil documentation access, improved infrastructure, and closer stakeholder collaboration to boost registration. 

Lessons from the 2025 elections will inform strategies for the 2026 parliamentary and municipal polls. The visits demonstrated ELECAM’s commitment to field engagement to strengthen public confidence in the electoral process.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3766 of Monday April 20, 2026