The fourth national recensement au Cameroun is currently navigating a period of considerable difficulty. Originally slated to conclude on May 29th, the comprehensive population and housing enumeration operation saw its timeline extended by two months through a decree issued by Prime Minister Joseph Dion Ngute. Far from alleviating concerns, this decision has intensified criticism from various civil society organizations, which are highlighting significant organizational failings in what should be a foundational statistical exercise for public policy formulation.
Philippe Nanga, coordinator of the non-governmental organization Un Monde Avenir, did not mince words, describing a “general cacophony” surrounding a process he deems critical for national planning. Nanga specifically pointed to a telling example of logistical disarray: in Douala, the nation’s economic capital, census agents reportedly abandoned their duties after just ten days in the field, having received no remuneration whatsoever.
A strategic statistical operation under pressure
For any nation, a robust census serves as the cornerstone of public action. It directly influences electoral redistricting, the allocation of budgetary resources to local authorities, the appropriate sizing of educational and healthcare infrastructure, and the credibility of macroeconomic projections. Cameroon, whose last official count dates back to 2005, has for years grappled with a deficit of updated demographic data. The stakes for this fourth edition therefore extended well beyond mere numerical updating.
The two-month extension tacitly acknowledges the scale of challenges encountered on the ground. These obstacles have accumulated since the operation’s inception, including incomplete coverage of rural areas, delays in material distribution, and insufficient training for some enumerators. The social unrest triggered by agents in Douala, moreover, illustrates a more systemic vulnerability: that of the payment chain and human resources management for a project of such magnitude.
Civil society as a watchdog for a vital process
Through Un Monde Avenir, Philippe Nanga embodies a segment of Cameroonian citizen organizations that closely monitor major institutional processes. His public statements are less about discrediting the operation itself and more about demanding accountability for its execution. Beneath the criticism lies a fundamental question: will the results generated under these conditions be statistically reliable and politically unimpeachable? 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 provides a window for rectification. However, this hinges on adequate financial resources being made available. Observing NGOs are cautioning against the risk that a poorly executed operation might ultimately provide only a partial snapshot of the Cameroonian population. International donors, such as the World Bank and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), which traditionally support such exercises across the continent, are also closely scrutinizing the methodological rigor of national enumerations.
A clear signal to public authorities
Beyond Cameroon’s specific situation, this debate reflects a common challenge faced by several Francophone African states: organizing comprehensive 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 delays before its final 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 in the process, regularize outstanding payments owed to field agents, and communicate intermediate indicators. Failing this, the fourth census risks being remembered in Cameroonian administrative history more for its shortcomings than for its scientific contributions.
