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Liberalization

Liberalization

 

President Biya made attempts to gradually remedy the ills created by his predecessors by completely renewing the frameworks and structures of the single party and renamed it Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (CPDM) in 1985. He even managed to win some of his opponents to his side. The opening also marked when multiparty municipal elections in October 1987 under the single party. A few months later, Biya was re-elected president, while nearly all deputies were beaten by newcomers in the legislative.

However, with the violent clashes in Yaounde by students versus police in December 1987, the economic situation worsened, series of social unrest broke out in 1989. On the 5th December 1990, the National Assembly passed series of laws designed to control the creation of new parties, while the Constitution explicitly provided for the multiparty. Several parties “close to power” were recognized without problems, but most of the opposition parties in the country or in exile, refused to endorse this “under control multiparty”.

From the month of April 1991, the “dead cities” operations, riots and protests spread throughout the country. In order to resolve the political crisis, President Paul Biya restored the post of Prime Minister, announced the elections and constitutional reform. In the face of this situation of chaos a state of emergency was declared with the establishment in May 1991 of “operational military commanders” to pacify the country. President Biya announced the parliamentary elections for 16th February 1992, the Prime Minister, Sadou Hayatou opened October 30 , 1991, the “tripartite’’ (government-opposition-population) intended to define the electoral framework and access to public media conference. The opposition was separated into supporters prior to a national conference and those who were in favor of an immediate participation in the electoral competition.

In 1992, multi-party presidential elections were held. Paul Biya was re-elected president (39.9%) to John Fru Ndi (35.9%), candidate of the Social Democratic Front (SDF). The results were highly competitive; following protests and incidents in the region of Bamenda. Consequently, the state of emergency was declared. On January 21, 1996 the first multiparty municipal elections were held. The CPDM carried 65% of urban district but lost the large and strategic cities like Douala to SDF. On February 10, 1996, the Sawa Douala people protested against the appointment of non-sawa mayors in the district councils that was won by SDF as agreed.

On 27th February 1996, a presidential decree set up a dozen of the largest cities in “urban district special regime”, most of which were won by the opposition to seize power in town halls. The opposition strongly condemned this and launched in May 1996, the “dead cities” operations relatively were not followed by the population.