Post Election Violence in Cameroon: Continuity and Change in the Era of Multiparty Politics, 1990–2025

Abstract

This article examines the persistence of post-election violence in Cameroon since the reintroduction of multiparty politics in 1990. Despite the formal adoption of democratic electoral processes, post election periods have frequently been marked by contested legitimacy, political tensions, and episodes of violence. The study addresses the central problem of why post-election violence remains a recurring feature of Cameroon’s political landscape. This study adopts a qualitative historical comparative research design combining process tracing and thematic content analysis. Data were collected from semi-structured interviews with political analysts, civil society actors, and election observers, as well as academic literature, policy reports, electoral documents, media archives, and reports from international organizations. Electoral cycles from 1992, 2004, 2011, 2018, and 2025 were purposively selected because they represent critical moments in the evolution of electoral contestation and post-election violence in Cameroon. Through longitudinal analysis, the study identifies patterns of continuity and change in the drivers, forms, and consequences of post-election violence. The findings reveal that while the forms of post-election violence have evolved from urban protests and state repression in the 1990s to more complex patterns involving militarization and conflict dynamics in recent years, the underlying drivers have remained largely consistent. These include disputed electoral legitimacy, centralized governance, weak institutional independence, and constrained political competition. The study further demonstrates that the Anglophone crisis has significantly reshaped the nature and intensity of post-election violence by embedding it within broader conflict dynamics. The article concludes that post-election violence in Cameroon is structurally embedded in the political system rather than being a series of isolated incidents. It reflects enduring governance challenges that have persisted across electoral cycles. The study recommends comprehensive institutional reforms, including strengthening the independence and credibility of electoral management bodies, enhancing electoral transparency, promoting inclusive political participation, and establishing effective mechanisms for resolving electoral disputes.