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2007 Assessment

Cameroon: Integrity Indicators Scorecard

Cameroon: Integrity Scorecard Report > Sub-Category: Political Financing
Indicators		Score
20	Are there regulations governing political financing?	57
21	Are the regulations governing political financing effective?	8
22	Can citizens access records related to political financing?	8

Indicator and sub-Indicator Details

Are there regulations governing political financing?

20a: In law, there are regulations governing private contributions to political parties.

Score:

YES

Comments:

References: - In accordance with Article 2 (1) and (2) of the Law N°2000/015 of December 15, 2000 relating to the public financing of political parties and election campaigns. - In accordance with Article 13 (1) of the Law 90/56 of December 19, 1990 relating to the political parties.

20b: In law, there are limits on individual donations to candidates and political parties.

Score:

YES

Comments:

References: - In accordance with article 12 (2) of the law 90/56 of December 19, 1990 relating to the political parties - In accordance with article 2 (1) and (2) of the law N°2000/015 of December 15, 2000 relating to the public financing of the political parties and the election campaigns

Peer Review Comments: However, in practice, it is not always that.

Peer Review Comments: There is a prohibition on external financing (Section 10 of Law on political parties) but there are no limits on amounts. This is what Section 12 of the 1990 law says: "Any political party that is authorized to exist may: purchase or freely receive and dispose of the movable and immovable property necessery for its activities; freely fix the rate of contributions by its members and collect them; open bank accounts in Cameroon exclusively; launch and manage newspaper and training institutions in accordance with the laws in force; institute legal proceedings; hold meetings and organize rallies under conditions provided for by the law; collect proceeds from its cultural and economic activities."

20c: In law, there are limits on corporate donations to candidates and political parties.

Score:

YES

Comments:

References: In accordance with Article 13 (2) of Law 90/56 of December 19, 1990 relating to political parties.

Peer Review Comments: But in Cameroon, that law is not respected.

Peer Review Comments: SECTION 13:

(1) Any political party may receive gifts and legacies of movable property exclusively from members or persons settled in Cameroon.

(2) The maximum annual amount of such gifts and legacies, as well as the procedure for collection thereof, shall be determined by regulations.

THE REGULATION MENTIONED ABOVE IS YET TO BE ENACTED.

20d: In law, there are limits on total political party expenditures.

Score:

YES

Comments:

References: -In accordance with Article 13 (2) of Law 90/56 of December 19, 1990 relating to political parties. -In accordance with Decree n° 2001/305 of October 8, 2001 fixing the organization, the composition, attributions and methods of operation of the Audit Board, and of the use of the intended funds for the public financing of political parties and election campaigns

Peer Review Comments: But in Cameroon, people use the money as they want.

20e: In law, there are requirements for disclosure of donations to political candidates and parties.

Score:

YES

$Scoring Criteria :: YES: A YES score is earned if there are any requirements mandating the disclosure of financial contributions to political parties or candidates. NO: A NO score is earned if there are no requirements mandating the disclosure of contributions to political parties or candidates, existing regulations do not require a donor\'s name or amount given, or the regulations allow for anonymous donations.$

Comments:

References: -In accordance with Article 2 of the Decree n° 2001/305 of October 8, 2001 fixing the organization, the composition, attributions and the methods of operation of the Audit Board of the use of the intended funds for the public financing of the political parties and election campaigns.

Peer Review Comments: But in Cameroon, rich men are happy to explain their money without limits to their political parties.

20f: In law, there are requirements for the independent auditing of the finances of political parties and candidates.

Score:

YES

Comments:

References: -In accordance with Article 3 of the Decree n° 2001/305 of October 8, 2001, fixing the organization, the composition, attributions and the methods of operation of the Audit Board for the use of the intended funds for the public financing of political parties and election campaigns.

Peer Review Comments: Yes, but in Cameroon, political parties are like a business.

Peer Review Comments: Yes, but only for funds provided by the government.

20g: In law, there is an agency or entity that monitors the political financing process.

Score:

YES

Comments:

References: - The Audit Board (The Commission) created by Decree n° 2001/305 of October 8, 2001.

Peer Review Comments: Yes, but the members of that agency are also members of political parties; they're not free.

Peer Review Comments: The board is not permanent; it functions mostly during electoral periods.

Are the regulations governing political financing effective?

21a: In practice, the limits on individual donations to candidates and political parties are effective in regulating an individual's ability to financially support a candidate or political party.

Score:

100

Comments:

References: - Essama Essomba, "Ombres et lumières sur largent des partis politiques," in Cameroon Tribune, 14 June 2004 (www.cameroon-tribune.net). - Interview of Dr Manassé Aboya Endong: "Du désordre dans le financement de la vie politique," by Aimé Francis Amougou, in Cameroon Tribune, 14/06/2004 (www.cameroon-tribune.net).

Peer Review Comments: There are no limits on amounts.

21b: In practice, the limits on corporate donations to candidates and political parties are effective in regulating a company's ability to financially support a candidate or political party.

Score:

100

Comments:

References: - Essama Essomba, Ombres et lumières sur largent des partis politiques, in Cameroon Tribune, 14 June 2004 (www.cameroon-tribune.net). - Jean-Fabien Monkam Nitcheu, Advisor, Central Comity, CPDM, "Lessentiel de nos ressources provient des militants", interviewed by Aimé Francis Amougou in Cameroon Tribune, 14 June 2004 (www.cameroon-tribune.net). - Dagobert Bisseck and Joseph Youmsi, "Le financement des partis politiques au Cameroun," in ACCPUF Bulletin N°6, November 2006 (www.accpuf.org).

21c: In practice, the limits on total party expenditures are effective in regulating a political party's ability to fund campaigns or politically-related activities.

Score:

100

Comments:

References: - Michel Banock, Le processus de démocratisation en Afrique : le cas camerounais, Paris, L'Harmattan, 1993. - Eyinga, Abel. Introduction à la politique camerounaise. Paris : Anthropos, 1978. - Jean-François Bayart, "L'Etat au Cameroun," Paris, FNSP, 1985.

Peer Review Comments: There are no expenditure limits.

21d: In practice, when necessary, an agency or entity monitoring political financing independently initiates investigations.

Score:

100

Comments:

References: - Lucie Pekoua, "Gare au financement des partis politiques," in Ouest Echos, October 2001. - Dagobert Bisseck and Joseph Youmsi, "Le financement des partis politiques au Cameroun," in ACCPUF Bulletin N°6, November 2006 (www.accpuf.org).

Peer Review Comments: C'est une pratique qui n'est pas courante. Les leaders de partis politiques gèrent leur formation comme une épicerie, confondant l'argent du parti avec l'argent de poche, particulièrement lorsque le gouvernement leur verse les allocations pour la campagne électorale.

21e: In practice, when necessary, an agency or entity monitoring political financing imposes penalties on offenders.

Score:

100

Comments:

References: - Dagobert Bisseck and Joseph Youmsi, "Le financement des partis politiques au Cameroun," in ACCPUF Bulletin N°6, November 2006 (www.accpuf.org). - Essama Essomba, Ombres et lumières sur largent des partis politiques, in Cameroon Tribune, 14 June 2004 (www.cameroon-tribune.net).

21f: In practice, contributions to political parties and candidates are audited.

Score:

100

Comments:

References: - Essama Essomba, "Ombres et lumières sur largent des partis politiques," in Cameroon Tribune, 14 June 2004 (www.cameroon-tribune.net). - Jean-Fabien Monkam Nitcheu, Advisor, Central Comity, CPDM, "Lessentiel de nos ressources provient des militants", interviewed by Aimé Francis Amougou in Cameroon Tribune, 14 June 2004 (www.cameroon-tribune.net). - Interview of Maidadi Sadou Yaya, Former Vice President, Social Democratic Front, "Tempête: revelations de Maidadi Sadou Yaya sur le SDF", in Le Messager, 24 October 2005 (www.lemessager.net).

Can citizens access records related to political financing?

22a: In practice, political parties and candidates disclose data relating to financial support and expenditures within a reasonable time period.

Score:

100

Comments:

References: - Dagobert Bisseck and Joseph Youmsi, "Le financement des partis politiques au Cameroun", in ACCPUF Bulletin N°6, November 2006 (www.accpuf.org). - Essama Essomba, Ombres et lumières sur largent des partis politiques, in Cameroon Tribune, 14 June 2004 (www.cameroon-tribune.net).

Peer Review Comments: Les questions relatives au financement font partie des tabous. Même la presse a du mal à accéder au bilan chiffré des partis.

22b: In practice, citizens can access the financial records of political parties and candidates within a reasonable time period.

Score:

100

Comments:

22c: In practice, citizens can access the financial records of political parties and candidates at a reasonable cost.

Score:

100

Comments: