The head of the European Union (EU) mission in Cameroon, Hans-Peter Schadek has said that the presidential election slated for 7 October, 2018 will take place without observers from the bloc.
Disclosing this on Monday, the European diplomat was not very forthcoming on the reasons for this absence. It comes amidst reports that the Cameroonian authorities have not invited the EU to deploy an observer mission for the poll, while other sources quote budgetary constraints.“The actual election observation has not been planned and has not been prepared,” Schadek said and was quick to add that this did not mean that the EU will remain “indifferent” to the exercise.
This is the first time since the return to multiparty system in 1990 that a presidential poll will be held in Cameroon without the presence of the EU observers, unlike the exercises in 1992, 1997, 2004 and 2011.
“Although we are not on the ground, we are monitoring what is going on” the EU official said.
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After the launch of the electoral campaign last Saturday, the nine presidential aspirants and their supporters have been crisscrossing the country to secure support for their candidates.
Some 6.5 million Cameroonians are registered to elect a new president for the next seven years.
The contenders include the 85-year-old incumbent President Paul Biya, who has ruled Cameroon for 36 years.
