Challenges Facing Regions: Slow Competence Transfer, Financial Hitches

C ameroon, resolutely on a de­ centralisation policy institu­ ted Regional Councils who are currently at the start of their second mandate. The maiden mandate of five years was basically a learning process with challenges identified and prospects outlined for a more impactful functioning. Amongst the shortcomings identified are the slow pace with the transfer of competences to regions, financial problems, loopholes in the imple­ mentation of the law on Local Taxa­ tion which are causing significant cash flow pressures within Regional and Local Authorities, the incomplete availability of data required to process certain cases and the absence of qualified manpower owing to the inability to carryout direct recruitment by these regional institutions. In a recent presentation by the Mi­ nister of Decentralisation and Local Development, Georges Elanga Obam during the first ordinary session of the National Decentralisation Board for 2026, on an overview of the im­ plementation of decentralisation in regions, he noted that the absence of a regulatory instrument setting out the specific recruitment condi­ tions remains a constraint that is currently being addressed. This makes recruitment difficult in the young decentralised institutions whose mission is striving to improve the living conditions of the popula­ tion, especially given that some key positions remain unoccupied or those sent to the regions by authorities do not really fit or master the realities on the ground. Timeframe for adap­ ting could be considered as time lost. The Minister however said re­ gions have a stable workforce and organisational framework with the ten Regional Councils employing 536 staff, 383 of whom have fully regu­ larised administrative status. Pros­ pects on increasing are in the pipeline. Authorities also state that decen­ tralisation currently struggles with the concurrent transfer of compe­...