Elected but Unknown: The Regional Councils Cameroonians Never Feel

On Tuesday, 16 December, presidents of Regional Councils were elected across Cameroon’s 10 regions, marking the final stage of a tightly controlled electoral process that began with municipal councillor elections on 30 November.

Yet outside official circles, the outcome has barely registered. For many Cameroonians, the question is not who was elected, but why these institutions seem to matter so little.

The presidents were chosen by regional delegates drawn exclusively from municipal councillors of approved political parties. Despite layers of procedure, bureaucracy and political messaging, the real-world impact of these officials remains largely invisible.

“We hear about elections, but we don’t see change,” one resident told MMI. “So people stop paying attention.”

MMI Investigation Reveals Deep Disconnect

In November, MMI carried out a vox pop across several regions to assess the visibility and impact of Regional Councils. The findings point to a striking disconnect between institutions and the population they are meant to serve.

In Buea, the headquarters of the South-West Region, none of the residents interviewed were aware that Regional Council elections had taken place. Several said they had never even heard of a Regional Council.

When prompted, some respondents confused the role with that of the regional governor, assuming he was the “regional council president”.

“If they exist, what have they done?” asked a trader in Buea. “We have never seen a project, not one.”

Five years after their creation, many citizens say they cannot identify a single initiative implemented by these councils. Asked to name the sitting Regional Council president, respondents unanimously said they could not.

Institutions Created, Powers Withheld

Regional Councils were established in 2019 following the Major National Dialogue, presented by the government as a key response to the Anglophone crisis and a step toward decentralisation.

In theory, they were meant to receive transferred powers and resources from the central state in Yaoundé. In practice, that transfer has remained largely symbolic.

Several analysts note that Regional Councils operate with minimal authority and severely limited budgets—often smaller than those of individual municipalities.

“You cannot decentralise without money and decision-making power,” a governance expert said. “What Cameroon has done is create structures without substance.”

A Complex Structure in Anglophone Regions

The situation is even more complicated in the North-West and South-West regions. There, Regional Councils are part of a hybrid structure known as the Regional Assembly, made up of two bodies: the Regional Council and the House of Chiefs.

Under this arrangement, the President of the Regional Council also serves as President of the Regional Assembly, while the President of the House of Chiefs becomes Vice President.

However, traditional authorities say today’s House of Chiefs bears little resemblance to its historic role during British Cameroons or the federal era. It lacks funding, autonomy and operational capacity.

“We carry titles, but not tools,” one traditional ruler remarked privately. “Without resources, culture and development become empty words.”

Elections Without Expectations

As new Regional Council presidents take office, they inherit institutions struggling with credibility, visibility and relevance. For many Cameroonians, these elections feel procedural rather than transformational.

Until Regional Councils are empowered with real authority, transparent budgets and measurable projects, critics warn they risk remaining symbolic entities—known more for their elections than for their impact.

“If people don’t feel your work,” a civil society activist said, “then your institution exists only on paper.”