SIGNS, VOTERS QUEUEING, FILLING IN FORMS.




Initials ERW/VS/BOB/PC



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Background: VOTERS WENT TO THE POLLS IN WEST CAMEROUN ON SUNDAY TO ELECT 37 DEPUTIES TO THE REGIONAL LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY, IN THE FIRST ONE-PARTY ELECTION EVER HELD IN THE REPUBLIC. ALL CANDIDATES WERE NOMINATED BY THE CAMEROUN NATIONAL UNION, THE ONLY POLITICAL PARTY IN CAMEROUN.

APART FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN THE CAPITAL, YAOUNDE, CAMEROUN HAS SEPARATE LEGISLATURES IN IT'S EASTERN AND WESTERN REGIONS.

THE CAMEROUN, A GERMAN COLONY BEFORE WORLD WAR ONE AND ADMINISTERED BY FRANCE AFTER THE WAR, BECAME INDEPENDENCE ON 1ST JANUARY 1960. ON OCTOBER 1ST, 1961, IT WAS JOINED BY BRITISH-ADMINISTERED WEST CAMEROUN TO FORM THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF CAMEROUN.

WHEN HE OPENED THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN, TWO WEEKS BEFORE THE ELECTIONS, PRESIDENT AHNADOU AHIDJO TOLD VOTERS THAT THE SINGLE, ONE-PARTY LIST OF CANDIDATES WOULD PUT AN END OF DEPLORABLE INTER-PARTY QUARRELS, FALSE PROMISES AND TRIBAL FIGHTING, WHICH HAD ACCCOMPANIED PREVIOUS ELECTIONS.

THE CAMEROUN NATIONAL UNION PARTY WAS FORMED IN SEPTEMBER, 1966, BY THE VOLUNTARY MERGING OF FOUR POLITICAL PARTIES.

HEAVY VOTING WAS REPORTED IN THE ELECTION.