Tripartite Conference And Birth Of New Institutions

The Head of State, President Paul Biya in his characteristic yearning for dialogue in settling issues plaguing national life instead of the National Conference clamoured for by the opposition, called for the Tripartite Conference that took place at the Yaounde Conference Centre from October 30 to November 15, 1991. It brought together the government, opposition parties and members of the civil society who under the patronage of the Prime Minister discussed the draft electoral code and draft decree on the access of political parties to official media. The was also a commission set up to propose amendments in the 1972 Constitution to adapt it to the current realities.

Local Authorities

Concerning the form of State, the Constitution in Section 1 (2) provides that, “The Republic of Cameroon shall be a decentralised unitary State. It shall be one and indivisible.”  Section 55 (1) of the Constitution further specifies that “Regional and Local Authorities of the Republic of Cameroon shall comprise Regions and Councils.”   Before the enactment of the law, only City, Subdivisional and Local Councils existed. The Regions are gradually entering into force with election of pioneer Regional Councillors on December 6, 2020. The executives of the 10 Regional Councils are bracing up for work and adequate logistics are being put in place for the Regional Councils to go operational. 

Senate

The Constitution made provisions for a bicameral parliament in Cameroon. According to Section 14(1) “Legislative power shall be exercised by the Parliament which shall comprise two Houses:  The National Asse...