Parlement et parlementaires face aux défis de l’évolution du Cameroun (1960-2013)

Abstract

The importance of parliament in the face of development challenges remains a major question in Cameroon that has continuously given rise to debates. This in effect is the reason that prompted this research study on the theme: “Parliament and parliamentarians in the face of development challenges in cameroon 1960-2013”. The provisions governing parliament in Cameroon since its institution at the dawn of independence have varied in context and according to the leadership of the territory. Despite the mechanisms put in place for its implementation in the territory which since 1960 was now administered by Cameroonians, the provisions governing parliamentary elections have constantly changed in the light of changing political regimes and governments, thus raising the question of How have parliament and Cameroonian parliamentarians reacted to the constantly evolving and changing political processes in the country since 1960 to 2013 marked by the introduction of the bicameral system of parliament. This work examines the contribution of Parliament and Parliamentarians to Cameroon’s evolutionary process in the light of the various governments and political regimes the country has known. Basing ourselves on oral and written sources as well as the adoption of a diachronic and synchronic research approach in a multidisciplinary and objective methodology, this work has been organised in six chapters. The first chapter highlights the political evolution of Cameroon as a contributing factor to parliamentary adjustments in Cameroon. The second highlights the institutional provisions relating to the organisation and function of parliament in Cameroon. The third deals with the various parliamentarians elected to the different parliamentary assemblies of the republic of Cameroon. Chapter four is based on an enumeration of the different parliamentary leaders within the different assemblies, while chapter five analyses the major debates recorded within the parliament. Chapter six which is the last chapter presents parliamentarians in the context of some of their activities. In conclusion, this work holds that the Cameroonian parliament though greatly influenced by the executive through successive regimes and political systems, has managed to carve out space for itself and made its own contribution to the development of Cameroon in all areas, even though this contribution is still to be made known to a large part of the population, hence the significance of this work