Political Parties : Alliances Without Borders

Alliances, coalitions and cooperation between political parties constitute key ways through which they share experiences, establish platforms and work towards either consolidating their positions in power or acceding to power. Cameroon’s political parties are increasingly imbibing the alliances, especially with political parties from other countries of the world. The ruling party in country, the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM), is a leading example in creating alliances with foreign political parties. It has long lasting cooperation with the Communist Party of China (CPC) that also happens to be the ruling party in that country.

Officials of the both parties have not only been exchanging working and friendly visits but have more importantly been participating in events organised by one another. A 20-member delegation of the CPDM participated through video conference in the celebrations marking the 100th anniversary of the Communist Party of China on July 6, 2021 organised on the theme, “For the people’s wellbeing: the responsibility of political parties.” After the re-election of Chinese President Xi Jinping as the Secretary General of the Central Committee of the CPC, President Paul Biya of Cameroon who is also the National President of the CPDM in October 2017 expressed the wish to consolidate the excellent relations between the Community Party of China and the CPDM in order to strengthen the friendship between the two people’s. Officials of the CPC in February 2008, led by the Minister at the International Department of the Communist Party of China, Wang Jiarui paid a working and friendly visit to Cameroon and held discussions with senior CPDM officials.

One of the leading opposition political parties in Cameroon, the Social Democratic Front (SDF) has been another glaring example of alliances with foreign political parties. The SDF international cooperation is within the framework of the Socialist International to which it is affiliated. The Socialist Internat...