Cameroon’s census extension sparks civil society concerns over operational flaws

The fourth national recensement au Cameroun (census in Cameroon) is currently navigating a turbulent period. Originally slated to conclude on May 29th, the comprehensive population and housing enumeration effort received a two-month extension via a decree signed by Prime Minister Joseph Dion Ngute. Far from alleviating existing tensions, this decision has amplified criticism from various civil society organizations, which are highlighting significant organizational shortcomings in what should be a foundational statistical exercise for public policy formulation.

Philippe Nanga, coordinator for the non-governmental organization Un Monde Avenir, voiced strong disapproval, describing a “general cacophony” surrounding a process he deems critical for national planning. Nanga particularly emphasized a revealing logistical failure: in Douala, Cameroon’s economic capital, census agents reportedly abandoned their duties after just ten days in the field, citing a complete lack of remuneration.

A crucial statistical operation under immense pressure

For any nation, a census serves as the cornerstone of effective public action. Its findings are instrumental in shaping electoral boundaries, allocating budgetary resources to local authorities, determining the scale of educational and healthcare infrastructure, and bolstering the credibility of macroeconomic projections. Cameroon has faced a significant deficit of updated demographic data for several years, with its last official count dating back to 2005. Consequently, the stakes for this fourth edition extended far beyond a mere numerical update.

The two-month prolongation implicitly underscores the magnitude of the challenges encountered on the ground. These difficulties have accumulated since the operation’s launch, including incomplete coverage of rural areas, delays in material distribution, and inadequate training for some enumerators. The labor dispute initiated by agents in Douala further illustrates a more structural vulnerability within the payment chain and human resource management for an undertaking of such considerable scope.

Civil society vigilantly monitors a vital process

Through Un Monde Avenir, Philippe Nanga embodies a segment of Cameroonian citizen organizations that meticulously scrutinize major institutional processes. His public statements aim not to discredit the census itself, but rather to demand accountability for its execution. Beneath this critique lies a profound question: will the results generated under these conditions be statistically reliable and politically undeniable? This is no trivial matter in a country where disputes over official figures, whether demographic or electoral, are recurrent.

The extension decreed by the Prime Minister’s office theoretically offers a window for rectification. However, this hinges on whether sufficient financial resources are subsequently provided. NGOs observing the process are warning of the risk that a hastily conducted operation could ultimately deliver only a partial snapshot of the Cameroonian population. Moreover, international funders such as the World Bank and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), who traditionally support such exercises across the African continent, are also closely monitoring the methodological rigor of national enumerations.

A clear message to public authorities

Beyond Cameroon’s specific situation, this debate reflects a common challenge faced by several francophone African states: organizing exhaustive censuses within 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 postponements before its definitive results were published in 2010. Two decades later, the country still struggles to adhere to sustainable timelines for its statistical operations.

Nevertheless, Philippe Nanga’s public intervention could significantly influence the public discourse as the additional deadline approaches. Authorities are expected to demonstrate transparency regarding the operational framework, regularize outstanding payments 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 shortcomings than for its scientific contributions.