Led by Dr. Victorin Hameni Bieleu, the Union of Cameroon Democratic Forces (UFDC) is one of the opposition parties that received legal recognition in March 1991, following the enactment of multi-party legislation in Cameroon (Africa Research Bulletin 1-31 Mar. 1991, 10046; Afrique Contemporaine Apr.-June 1991, 57).

In cooperation with other opposition parties, the UFDC boycotted the legislative elections held in March 1992 after President Paul Biya, of the Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (CPDM), had electoral legislation passed prohibiting certain electoral coalitions (Political Parties of Africa and the Middle East 1993, 49). This legislation recognizes political parties, provided that they are not formed on the basis of region or ethnicity (Africa Research Bulletin 1-31 Dec. 1990, 9935).

The UFDC is a member of the Union for Change, a coalition of opposition parties that are contesting the results of the October 1992 presidential election, alleging electoral fraud (AI 18 Feb. 1994; Political Handbook of the World 1992 1992, 123).

In March 1993, the Union for Change called for weekly demonstrations across the country to protest re-elected president Paul Biya and to demand, among other things, that new presidential elections be held (AI Jan. 1994). During that month, several hundred people were arrested, including the head of the UFDC, Dr. Hameni Bieleu, his secretary general, André Kekuine, and approximately 100 UFDC members (ibid.; Africa Research Bulletin 1-30 Apr. 1993, 10959). According to Country Reports 1993 and Amnesty International, the UFDC members and Dr. Hameni Bieleu, who had already been arrested a number of times in 1991 and 1992, suffered serious ill-treatment during their detention in March 1993 (AI Jan. 1994, 4; Country Reports 1993 1994, 34; see also Country Reports 1992 1993, 34; Libération 20 Nov. 1992). Dr. Hameni Bieleu and the members of the UFDC were released on 8 April 1993 (Country Reports 1993 1994, 34).

In January 1994, Amnesty International reported that Janvier Deny, the treasurer of a local section of the UFDC, had been arrested and placed in administrative detention for one month because of his political activities (AI 18 Feb. 1994; ibid. 23 Feb. 1994). For additional information, please consult the attached documents.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

Africa Research Bulletin: Political Series [London]. 1-30 April 1993. Vol. 30, No. 4. "Constitutional Changes: Cameroon: Opposition Convenes National Conference."

_____. 1-31 March 1991. Vol. 28, No. 3. "Cameroon: Opposition Parties Abound."

_____. 1-31 December 1990. Vol. 27, No. 12. "Cameroon: Pluralism Law Approved."

Afrique contemporaine [Paris]. April-June 1991. No. 158. "Cameroun."

Amnesty International. 25 February 1994. Urgent Action. (AI Index: AFR 17/05/94). Londron: Amnesty International.

_____. 18 February 1994. Urgent Action. (AI Index: AFR 17/04/94). London: Amnesty International.

_____. January 1994. "Cameroon: 1993: Political Arrests and Torture Continue." (AI Index: AFR 17/02/94). London: Amnesty International.

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1993. 1994. United States Department of State. Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office.

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1992. 1993. United States Department of State. Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office.

Libération [Paris]. 20 November 1992. Stefen Smith. "L'opposant de Yaoundé coupable de victoire électorale."

Political Handbook of the World 1992. 1992. Edited by Arthur S. Banks. Binghamton, New York: CSA Publications.

Political Parties of Africa and the Middle East: A Reference Guide. 1993. Edited by Roger East and Tanya Joseph. Harlow, Essex: Longman Group UK Ltd.

Africa Research Bulletin: Political Series [London]. 1-30 April 1993. Vol. 30, No. 4. "Constitutional Changes: Cameroon: Opposition Convenes National Conference," 10959.

_____. 1-31 December 1991. Vol. 28, No. 12. "Constitutional Changes: Cameroon: Electoral Reforms," 10375.

_____. 1-31 July 1991. Vol. 28, No. 7. "Cameroon : 'Dead Cities' Campaign Continues," 10207.

_____. 1-31 March 1991. Vol. 28, No. 3. "Cameroon: Opposition Parties Abound," 10046.

_____. 1-31 December 1990. Vol. 27, No. 12. "Cameroon: Pluralism Law Approved," 9935.

Afrique contemporaine [Paris]. April-June 1991. No. 158. "Cameroun," 56-57.

Amnesty International. 25 February 1994. Urgent Action. (AI Index: AFR 17/05/94). Londron: Amnesty International.

_____. 18 February 1994. Urgent Action. (AI Index: AFR 17/04/94). London: Amnesty International.

_____. January 1994. "Cameroon: 1993: Political Arrests and Torture Continue." (AI Index: AFR 17/02/94). London: Amnesty International, 1-7.

Inter Press Service (IPS). 14 May 1991. "Cameroon: Civil Disobedience Campaign Planned." (NEXIS)

Keesing's Record of World Events [Cambridge]. 1992. Vol. 38, No. 11. "Cameroon: Post-election Protests and Repression," 39179.

Libération [Paris]. 20 November 1992. Stefen Smith. "L'opposant de Yaoundé coupable de victoire électorale."

Political Handbook of the World 1992. 1992. Edited by Arthur S. Banks. Binghamton, New York: CSA Publications, 123.

Political Parties of Africa and the Middle East: A Reference Guide. 1993. Edited by Roger East and Tanya Joseph. Harlow, Essex: Longman Group UK Ltd., 49.