(Business in Cameroon) - Cameroon has opened its election year with the election of senators. On February 7 2018, Paul Biya signed a decree summoning the Electoral College for this purpose.

The first article of this presidential decree indicates that “the electoral college will be summoned at the administrative centers of each department on Sunday March 25 2018, in order to elect the senators”. Article 2 further explains that the electoral offices will be opened from 8 AM to 6 PM.

Let’s note that this year, Cameroon would organize at least four elections (presidential, senatorial, legislative and municipal). In that regard, the 2018 Finance law has budgeted CFA50 billion for the material organization.

The upcoming senatorial election’s budget has not been disclosed yet but it should be noted that for the last presidential election held on October 9 2011, about CFA21 billion was set and funded with government’s own funds. Furthermore, for the twin legislative and municipal elections held on September 30 2013, the ministry of finance had disbursed CFA12 billion. So, these three elections cost CFA33 billion to taxpayers.

S.A