Cameroon's new identification system: Another CPDM failure

Over five months after the signing of a new contract with a French firm, GEMALTO for the production of new identity cards in Cameroon and the subsequent commissioning of the technical supervisory committee for the operations weeks later (on August 12, 2015) by the Delegate General for National Security, Martin Mbarga Nguele, the new identification process is yet to see the light of the day. Scores of Cameroonians have been seen in queues applying to get the vital identification document. At the Central Police Station No. 1 downtown Yaounde for instance, the same old application forms were being filled for applicants in need of the National Identity Card. The Chief of the Identification Post at the Central Police Station No. 1 maintained sealed lips and referred journalists to the Police hierarchy. 

At the General Delegation for National Security, the Head of Communication and Public Relations, Senior Superintendent Cécile Mandeng said the contracted firm is yet to begin the operation without giving further details. It should be recalled that the reform in the identification system as was revealed by the Delegate General for National Security, Martin Mbarga Nguélé while commissioning the committee in charge of overseeing the operation, is intended to secure Cameroon’s identification system. With the new system, national identity cards holders will be attributed a unique and infinite registration number.

Mbarga Nguélé recently stated that the old ID cards will remain valid until the production of the new cards begins. The process to deliver the new cards which he said will be difficult to falsify, he added, was going to be gradual with the committee to prepare the necessary ground work for effective take off of the operation.