Cameroon’s 2025 election: ELECAM rolls out 1,000 next-gen biometric kits 🗳️

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With Cameroon’s 2025 presidential election looming, the country’s electoral body is stepping up its game. Elections Cameroon (ELECAM) launched a training workshop in Yaoundé on May 7 to prepare its teams for the deployment of 1,000 cutting-edge biometric registration kits—part of a major tech upgrade aimed at making voter enrollment faster, more secure, and more reliable.

Biometric hardware gets a serious upgrade 💻

At Yaoundé’s Air Base 101, rows of fresh gear are waiting to be configured. Each registration kit includes:

• A Dell laptop powered by an Intel processor
• An NFC reader
• An IB Kojak FAP60 fingerprint scanner, capable of capturing ten fingerprints in line with international standards
• A Logitech C930 HD webcam with built-in LED lighting
• A Bluetooth thermal printer
• GPS modules for location tracking

The kits are designed for off-grid deployment, powered by two 20,100 mAh batteries and an 86W solar panel. All the hardware is packed into an IP67-rated case, making it water-resistant, shockproof, and dustproof. A retractable photo backdrop with tripod rounds out the setup, ensuring crisp ID photos even in the field.

Election tech 3.0 goes live 🔐

Speaking at the workshop’s opening ceremony, ELECAM Director General Erik Essoussè told the press the new generation of kits marks a significant leap forward:

“These 2025 kits meet the latest international standards. They’re built with advanced tech that ensures our operations are faster, more reliable, and more secure.”

The upgrade is meant to phase out aging equipment from 2012 and 2017, which has reached the end of its lifecycle. Configuration is underway, with kits expected to roll out nationwide by the end of May, and to diaspora communities starting in June.

Strong momentum ahead of the polls 📈

The voter registration drive has already shown results. In 2024 alone, 755,085 new voters were added to the rolls, pushing the total number of registered voters to over 8.1 million. This boost is thanks to targeted outreach efforts by ELECAM, working in tandem with civil society groups and political parties.

ELECAM has prioritized inclusion, deploying digital strategies to reach young people, people with disabilities, and Cameroonians living abroad. Dedicated teams are already operating across 46 embassies and consulates to support voter registration in the diaspora.

A push for transparency, inclusion, and trust 🎯

These tech and logistics upgrades reflect a broader mission: strengthening the integrity of the electoral process. By late 2024, ELECAM had already acquired an industrial-grade printer capable of producing up to 3,000 voter cards per day. Thousands of cards are now being printed and distributed.

All of this signals ELECAM’s intent to deliver a more transparent, inclusive, and secure election in 2025—a priority in a country where elections are often closely watched and politically charged.

What do you think ??
Is this a step in the right direction for Cameroon’s democratic process? Share your thoughts in the comments. ☺️