Cameroon’s fourth national census is encountering significant operational challenges. Initially slated for completion on May 29, the critical population and housing enumeration exercise has been extended by two months through a decree signed by Prime Minister Joseph Dion Ngute. Far from alleviating concerns, this decision has intensified criticism from segments of civil society, who highlight profound organizational shortcomings in what should be a foundational statistical undertaking for public policy development.

Philippe Nanga, coordinator of the non-governmental organization Un Monde Avenir, voiced strong disapproval, describing a “general cacophony” surrounding a process he deems essential for national planning. Nanga pointed to a revealing example of the logistical disarray: in Douala, the nation’s economic capital, census enumerators abandoned their duties after just ten days in the field, having received no payment whatsoever.

Strategic statistical operation under pressure

For any nation, a census serves as the cornerstone of public action. It dictates electoral districting, the allocation of budgetary resources to local authorities, the scaling of educational and healthcare infrastructure, and the credibility of macroeconomic forecasts. Cameroon, whose last official count dates back to 2005, has for years suffered from a lack of updated demographic data. Therefore, the stakes for this fourth edition extended far beyond mere numerical updating.

The two-month extension implicitly reveals the extent of difficulties encountered on the ground. These include incomplete coverage of rural areas, delays in material delivery, and insufficient training for some field agents. The social movement initiated by agents in Douala further illustrates a more systemic vulnerability: that of the payment chain and human resource management for an undertaking of such magnitude.

Civil society monitors a vital process

Through Un Monde Avenir, Philippe Nanga represents a segment of Cameroonian civil society organizations that closely scrutinize major institutional processes. His public statements aim less to discredit the operation and more to demand accountability for its execution. Underlying the condemnation is a fundamental question: will the results produced under these conditions be statistically reliable and politically undeniable? This is not a trivial concern in a country where disputes over official figures, whether demographic or electoral, are recurrent.

The extension decreed by the Prime Minister’s office theoretically offers a window for rectification. However, this hinges on adequate financial resources being made available. Observing NGOs warn that a rushed operation risks yielding only a partial snapshot of the Cameroonian population. Moreover, international donors like the World Bank and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), who traditionally support such exercises across the continent, are also closely monitoring the methodological rigor of national enumerations.

A signal to public authorities

Beyond Cameroon’s specific situation, this debate reflects a common challenge for several Francophone African states: organizing comprehensive censuses within contexts marked by tight budgetary constraints, difficult-to-access territories, and security challenges in certain regions. Cameroon’s previous census in 2005 also experienced successive delays before its final results were published in 2010. Two decades later, the country still struggles to adhere to feasible timelines for its statistical operations.

Nevertheless, Philippe Nanga’s public intervention could significantly influence the public debate as the additional deadline approaches. Authorities are expected to ensure transparency in the process, regularize arrears owed to field agents, and communicate intermediate indicators. Failing this, the fourth census risks being remembered in Cameroonian administrative history more for its setbacks than for its scientific contributions.