The role of the Senate in the power games in Cameroon

The Senate is the second chamber or the second assembly of a parliament. In Cameroon, its delayed establishment has sparked heated debate, concern, despair and desolation. The subject of intense controversy over its appropriateness and/or timeliness, the effective establishment of the Senate on 14 May 2013 has restored the image of democracy through the creation of political bodies and institutions with a particular character. Thus, the advent of the Senate in Cameroon, through its inclusion in the process of revitalising political institutions and establishing a new framework for political power with a view to contributing to the improvement and strengthening of legislative work and the establishment of a system of representation for decentralised local authorities, raises an important issue: that of its place in the power games in Cameroon. That being said, this issue raises questions about the emergence of the Senate on Cameroon’s institutional scene, its necessity, its challenges and its track record since it became effective.