1945 French legislative election in Cameroon

Elections to the French National Assembly were held in French Cameroons on 21 October 1945, with a second round of voting on 18 November.[1] Louis-Paul Aujoulat and Alexandre Douala Manga Bell were elected.

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Electoral system

The two seats allocated to the constituency were elected on two separate electoral rolls; French citizens elected one MP from the first college, whilst non-citizens elected one MP in the second college.[1]

Background

The relationship between the French and the African population of Cameroon were poor at the time of the election; the Africans were unenthusiastic about French colonialism and their economic situation. Although trade unions had been legalised in 1944, commercial interests had subsequently formed the Etats Généreaux de la Colonisation Française, which opposed abolishing forced labour. Announcements from the new body infuriated African workers, leading to the strikes starting on 24 September, which turned into full-scale riots. The violence led to the deaths of eight Africans and the secretary of the Chamber of Commerce.[2]

Campaign

Alexandre Douala Manga Bell, chief of the Duala, ran for the second college, but was opposed by Governor Henri Pierre Nicolas. Although some of his supporters were jailed, this only served to increase his popularity.[2]

The first college election was a close race between Louis-Paul Aujoulat, a Catholic missionary, and the candidate representing commercial interests.[2]

Results
Candidate First round Second round
Votes % Votes %
First College
Louis-Paul Aujoulat37127.164047.3
Georges Molinatti32223.636527.0
Jules Ninine31623.134925.7
Seven other candidates35826.2––
Invalid/blank votes45–26–
Total1,4121001,380100
Registered voters/turnout1,99170.91,97070.5
Second College
Alexandre Douala Manga Bell3,77938.85,27451.6
André Fouda1,64816.94,61245.1
Njoya Arouna1,65417.0––
Amougu1,06110.9––
Pierre Ripaud2142.21971.9
Albert Rouly1311.31331.3
Five other candidates1,26012.9––
Invalid/blank votes132–102–
Total9,87910010,318100
Registered voters/turnout12,46879.212,58882.0
Source: Sternberger et al

Aftermath

Following the elections, Senegalese MP Lamine Guèye attempted to persuade all the African MPs to form an African Bloc, which would be affiliated with the SFIO. However, the attempt failed, and both Aujoulat and Douala Manga Bell joined the Popular Republican Movement.[3]

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References
  1. Dolf Sternberger, Bernhard Vogel, Dieter Nohlen & Klaus Landfried (1978) Die Wahl der Parlamente: Band II: Afrika, Erster Halbband, pp902–903
  2. Edward Mortimer (1969) France and the Africans 1944–1960: A political history, Faber, p67
  3. Mortimer, p72
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