Controversy Surrounds Free National ID Campaign in Okola

Minister Benoît Ndong Soumhet—who is originally from the Lékié department—has launched a free National Identity Card (CNI) registration campaign in Okola, Cameroon, a move that some local leaders praise but that raises deeper national concerns. The operation also includes automatic voter registration, framing it as a civic initiative. However, in a country plagued by chronic administrative delays, the timing and exclusivity of the program have sparked skepticism about its true motives.

A Nation Struggling with Identity Card Access

For years, millions of Cameroonians have been waiting—often in vain—for their national ID cards. From major cities to remote villages, it is common to see citizens holding expired temporary receipts, some dating back over five years. The 2024 rollout of a new biometric identification system, promised to streamline the process, has delivered little improvement. Enrollment centers remain overwhelmed, complaints are mounting, and the National Identification Agency continues to struggle with unexplained processing delays.

Why Is Okola an Exception?

Against this backdrop of widespread dysfunction, the swift and well-organized ID campaign in Okola stands out. Backed by a high-ranking member of the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM), this localized effort offers preferential treatment to residents of a single commune: expedited issuance of CNIs and instant enrollment on electoral lists.

While undeniably beneficial to Okola’s residents, the operation raises critical questions. Why such speed and efficiency here, while millions of others across the country remain in bureaucratic limbo?

Politicizing Civil Identity in an Election Year

This glaring contrast highlights a growing concern about the politicization of civil identity services in Cameroon. With the 2025 presidential elections on the horizon, the timing of the campaign appears far from coincidental. The ruling RDPC party—well-known for its control over electoral processes and administrative machinery—seems to be leveraging this campaign as a political tool.

“An elector with an ID is a mobilizable voter. And a mobilizable voter is a controllable voter,”
an observer noted.

The Okola campaign suggests that the problem isn’t about lacking resources—but rather a lack of political will. If such a streamlined operation can happen in one town, why not implement it nationwide? The answer, critics argue, lies in a calculated strategy to keep the population administratively dependent, where access to basic civil rights becomes a politically negotiable privilege.

Millions Still Left Behind

While a few thousand people in Okola benefit, millions more across regions like the Far North, South-West, East, and West remain unable to obtain ID cards due to insufficient infrastructure, lack of trained personnel, and weak administrative commitment. This disparity fuels a growing sense of national injustice and reinforces the perception that the RDPC governs selectively, driven more by electoral interests than public service.

This is no longer just an administrative issue—it’s a deliberate political strategy: to restrict access to full citizenship and manipulate it as a resource for retaining power.

MMI