The aim is to encourage them to register massively on the electoral roll ahead of the 2025 elections.

The aim of this initiative by the local elite is to encourage the local population to register on the electoral lists, which are due to close on August 31. During this period, 2,000  identity cards will be issued to applicants ‘who have previously shown their support for the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement.

For Thierry Martial Lingong, vice-president of the CPDM’s Batouri 8 Tripano-Bocom municipal branch, “the project was inspired by the fact that young people in the area were having problems obtaining identity cards to register on electoral lists. So we thought it would be a good idea to launch this campaign so that the young people of Batouri and the surrounding villages can register to receive free identity cards. This will also enable them to register to vote”. The identity cards issued as part of this campaign will be available within a week.

Currently, it can take several months or even years for an identity card to be issued. This delay is often a source of frustration for Cameroonians who need their identity card to carry out various administrative procedures, such as opening a bank account, applying for a passport or registering to vote.

On May 13, the General Delegation for National Security signed a contract with INCM-Augentic for the financing, concession, development, commissioning and operation of a new security identification system in Cameroon. The system will produce national identity cards within 48 hours. Under the terms of the agreement, the consortium will finance and build a national ID production centre in Yaoundé and two sub-centres in Douala and Garoua, each with 25 enrolment stations. The foundation stone for these facilities was laid on 19 June,