As the 2025 presidential election approaches, many political parties are weighing not just strategy, but survival. Competing in Cameroon’s presidential race is no small feat — financially, it's a major undertaking. Here’s a breakdown of what it may cost a party to seriously contest.
Legal Requirement
According to the electoral code, each candidate must pay a non-refundable deposit of 30 million FCFA to enter the race.
Polling Day Agents
With over 26,000 polling stations in the country, assigning 2 agents per polling station at 5,000 FCFA each totals:
| Item | Quantity | Cost per Unit (FCFA) | Total (FCFA) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polling Stations | 26,000 | 2 agents × 5,000 | 260,000,000 |
Campaign Expenditures
| Item | Estimated Cost (FCFA) |
|---|---|
| Transportation & logistics (buses, fuel, accommodation) | 300,000,000 |
| Printing (posters, banners, flyers) | 150,000,000 |
| Branded items (T-shirts, caps, gadgets) | 100,000,000 |
| Campaign rallies (10 regions × 20M each) | 200,000,000 |
| Media, adverts, online campaigns | 100,000,000 |
| Legal & administrative fees | 30,000,000 |
| Contingency and operations | 150,000,000 |
| Subtotal | 1,030,000,000 |
Total Estimated Campaign Budget
| Category | Total (FCFA) |
|---|---|
| Legal Caution | 30,000,000 |
| Polling Agents | 260,000,000 |
| Campaign Expenses | 1,030,000,000 |
| Estimated Grand Total | 1,320,000,000 FCFA |
Note: For large-scale campaigns or parties aiming for maximum regional coverage, the full cost could easily exceed 2 billion FCFA.
In a nation where democracy is expanding but resources are limited, these figures raise important questions: Who really gets to run for president — and who gets left out?
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