Electoral Process: CAR learns from ELECAM experience

The past four days have been busy for senior staff of Elections Cameroon (ELECAM) and the delegation from the Central African Republic’s “Autorité Nationale des Elections” (A.N.E), the country’s election management organ that has been in Cameroon on a study tour.

A series of working sessions between ELECAM’s top management staff and the visiting delegation as well as guided tour to local decentralised ELECAM structures in the capital city and the National Biometric Centre down town Yaounde were some of the highlights of the visit.

The Deputy Director General of Elections, Dr Erick Essousse, described the trip as satisfactory and a sign of sub-regional cooperation in experience-sharing on electoral matters.

Speaking to the press in Yaounde on July 21, 2016, at the end of the working visit, the leader of the delegation and Spokesperson of Central African Republic Elections Authority, Julius Rufin Ngouade-Baba, hailed the management of Cameroon’s electoral roll which he admitted inspires them. Apart from the electoral roll, the strategy of proximity communication and registration is also something to reckon with.

ANE, which is a young institution created in 2013, Ngouade-Baba said, is enthused by biometric registration of voters and the treatment of the data and the production of electoral lists and voters’ cards. He said Central African Republic is looking forward to introducing biometric technology.

After electing the President in poll, the Central African Republic is looking forward to municipal election and the putting in place of the Senate. Thus, ELECAM’s experience in the electoral would be an asset for them, the leader of the delegation affirmed.