Politics

When through ignorance, foolhardiness, idiocy, 18th century societal governance exaction, and multiform gross miscalculations we have decided to turn our own country into the real Heart of Darkness perceived through the scribbles of Conrad, then there should be no question of how and where I have to cry, blubber or wail out laud. Everyone (including right thinking francophones and of course the usual plethora of ill-informed, half-baked pseudo intellectuals) seems to have an incredible something to articulate about how the crisis in our country should have or should not have been handled! Thank God we all have opinions and approaches. Thank God we all know what others should have or shouldn't have done. Thank God all our individual solutions are the best ever!

The issue here therefore, is one of 25 million solutions to a single crisis. Oh yes, 25 million. If we agree that the ongoing crisis has gone off hand, then let us be unassuming enough to put our finger on how the derailment sparked off. If we think the Lawyers and Teachers were never supposed to have voiced out the grievances and the gripe we all suffer, then we should rethink our pretentious claims to patriotism. In all homes, the adolescent who questions the parents has always been the intelligent one; the hope of that family!

The dumb, meek, and candy addict remains a disgrace for through such will nothing but ignominy befall the family. If the Lawyers and Teachers speak out, and we decide to give a false, forged and bogus coloring to their plight, then we have ourselves to blame for the unfortunate/ adverse upshot. As a first reaction (coming rather late) to the lawyers and teachers, the President set up a committee to dialogue with the leaders of these professional corps. But we, yes, I say WE because I have been coerced into accepting that I am part of the voodoo miscalculations that have littered this panoramic scene from inception till date. I accept! WE decided to keep aside the commissions and organize a classic march of the CPDM instead. If you like you can ask me what is wrong in that. "Nothing!" I would say but my Dear Patriot... Did the Lawyers and Teachers complain that their dear party has not marched for long??

Let's drum it down our heads (for those who have any) that derailment number 3 was this unorthodox "patriotic" decision. I put it number three because I think WE actually started by sending police to brutalize the lawyers as a token of our love for our country! I put it no. 3 because the students pulled out of their hostels in nightgowns and suffocated in sewage could not have been striking in that attire. And even if they were, that kind of treatment clearly spells it out that the security men never never considered those children to be humans, let alone they being Cameroonian! I say no. 3 to remind us that refusing to dialogue with Cameroonians when we do dialogue with Boko Haram and exchange captives is gruesome! I say no. 3 because after the shocking images of torn testicles on social media, “patriots” like Cameroon Tribune organized a funeral for the burnt flag!!!

 I say number three because those who advice the President did not tell him that Anglophone Cameroonians including some francophones all over the world have been out demonstrating. Rather WE told him that teachers and lawyers were being "manipulated". Who has succeeded to manipulate everybody just like that? If such exists, then that entity deserves the leadership of the people.

 If it’s a war of manipulation, why is gov't unable to manipulate? I earlier mentioned 25 million answers to a single question. For an Anglophone problem, Senator Musonge whom I respect very much, decided on his own solution, leaving Achidi Achu to decide on a parallel or perhaps a rival one?

 Do our so-called elite urinate in their pants when it comes to telling the head of state what they think? Do they know that to have designated the PM and his Chief of Cabinet from the beginning, the president can claim that the buffoonery came from them? Why on earth did the PM accept to go and march? May be that is the real Anglophone problem; panic and confusion at the helm.

 May be the Anglophones need their own “National Media” because if we are on an Anglophone problem, why is CRTV letting more francophones to talk about it than those concerned? If it is an Anglophone problem, why do we think pictures (fake or real) of pupils marching on February 11can be any form of solution? If this historic approach may have been taught by the French colonial masters, and must have succeeded in the former French colonies, We (You and I) find it humiliatingly worthless in such a context.

This outcome was glaringly predictable! WE, yes, WE have to stop aggravating this problem in the name patriotism and stop turning the "one and indivisible" into a laughing stock. People who are not Cameroonian have been calling to ask me if there is no sane human among the 25 million. Some of us and many more by airing out semi-sane proposals would have helped orientate even the approach to dialogue which seems to have been designed by souls foreign to negotiation and conflict resolution. When begun, dialogue should never be halted because it takes the parties to sentiments more acrimonious and rancorous than the initial state of mind (I still remember my diplomacy course). Theory? This has happened unfortunately!

For those who truly love this land, WE, again, WE should stop trying to address the striking public. Decision-making is the preserve to the governor not the oppressed. Telling people to stop ghost town with the lame excuse that it is detrimental to their businesses is by its very nature stupidity. When I go on hunger strike I don’t need a minister to tell me that food nourishes the body. As from now, the striking public can never stop asking to be given the treatment they deserve and will extend the demands with each act of repression.

Technically and scientifically, the group/groups are now too varied and multifaceted to get messages from any Elite, Fon, or even Union leaders. After the Buea sewage gruesome images, secessionists increased by 2000 % and as the days go by, many are swearing never to accept gendarmes parading our villages and harassing our grandmothers in French! The sooner a reasonable speech full of apologies is made in this country with a clear agenda for the remake, the better. WE, should tell the President what WE know is the way out. We think that if some government is too big to respect us, then we legitimately need a modest government at our level. I see that as a human right. We know it! We also know for instance that the use of words that cannot help the situation is babble squandering and may breed the unintended instead.

If people hear extremist three times, the next thing we will hear is “Nous sommes les extrèmistes!” Knack ma hand!!! A lot about life is predictable but it unfortunately requires common sense to predict the logical sequence of occurrences, not tricks. My brother Owona Nguini writes that the government will go wild with repression. I think so too but I equally know the state of mind of the average Anglophone: “Chop fire”, they call themselves. We still remember that as a means to chip away at the death of six at the launching of the SDF, “Official News”, that is CRTV, told us that Fru Ndi had escaped to Nigeria!!! Are WE at it again? I hate déjà vu especially when it brings shame and disgrace. Some of us still have self-pride. In times of conflict, if your contribution does not seek to support the oppressed or the victim, keep your mouth shut. Spare your wife and children the embarrassment of being reminded of your shortcomings. WE are worried because we love this country!!! I really mean we, not WE. I here plead with my so-called “patriots” to understand that we, LOVE THIS COUNTRY more than them!!!

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Dr Nguh Jam

17.Feb.2017

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President Paul Biya and his theory of 'one and indivisible Cameroon' is still facing tough resistance from the English speaking population of the country. While the government keeps calling for schools to resume, youths of the Northwest and Southwest regions are still to resume effective classes. The lawyer's strike is still ongoing making it impossible for the courts to operate normally.

Sporadic tensions have been witnessed recently in Ndop, Bali and Akwaya. These confrontations between the police and the population has led to numerous arrests and destruction of property. Since the government's ban and arrest of the Anglophone civil society Consortium, and the Southern Cameroon National Council's  leaders, the population has been respecting calls for civil disobedience from the Diaspora interim leaders ; Mark Bareta and Tapang Ivo.

The tense situation in Cameroon is not only affecting the 35 year old regime but recent developments between the different Anglophone groups fighting for the restoration of the Southern Cameroon state, has portrayed the weaknesses of these new leaders. Apart from the Interim leaders, Mr. Tassang Wilfred(Secretary General) of the Consortium, on the run, and others have resurfaced. Mr. Tassang has been sending out video messages to encourage the population to respect the strike actions. Meanwhile, many other groups with different strategies are becoming more vocal thus leaving the population confused. Citizens back home are now calling for an All Anglophone conference to bring all these groups under one umbrella. Critics have condemned the power struggle witnessed within these groups.

It is important to note that we are in a learning process,  and such conflicts are just normal. Cameroonians have been so used to seeing the same policies and faces without change for the last 35years. No real opposition, and especially, the fear factor has been a big problem. The regime successfully bribed opposition leaders and governed with an iron fist. What we are witnessing is democracy in action where people debate and push their ideas and policies to the public. By trying to compare the leaders of the different groups fighting for the restoration of Southern Cameroon to President Biya is an aberration.
The Democratic process in Cameroon since 1990 has been marred by corruption and nepotism. Southern Cameroonian should not expect their struggle to be a perfect one. The All Anglophone Conference will be a good solution but, it is time when people start asking what can I do to help my country. Problems will not be solved overnight even if federation or total separation is achieved. Conflicting debates, strategies, and planning is what will make things change. Leaders who will emerged from the struggle having proved their unifying force are certainly those who will gain the  trust of the population.

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Rita Akana

17.Feb.2017

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The case of Ayah Paul Ebine, supreme court judge arrested by the Biya regime has exposed the frailty of the political structure and to a broader extends, the separation of power between these structures in Cameroon.

A democratic government normally has 3 branches; the executive, legislative, and judiciary with each being totally independent.The purpose of the judicial branch is to interpret the Constitution and other laws. The judicial branch is independent from the executive and legislative branches in order to hold them in check. 

In Cameroon, the executive branch of government has usurp all the powers, turning the judiciary and legislative to mere spectators taking orders from the authoritarian regime of the supreme Emperor who in this case is the 85 year old, ailing president Paul Biya. In a country where the ruling party has won all elections since multiparty was reinstated in 1990, democracy is practised only on paper. President Biya's democracy is a sham. He appoints hand-picked judges to the judiciary who are his stooges and will stop at nothing to satisfy him. The judiciary is not independent in Cameroon. In this fallacy, anyone who questions Biya is seen as an enemy of the state and civilians are regularly dragged to the Military courts. The case of Justice Chi Valantine, formally of the Manyu & Fako High Courts and currently Deputy Attorney General for the West Province, arrested following orders from the supreme executive president only proofs the weakness of the judiciary.

It is important to note that the legislative and judiciary are normally checks and balances vis a vis the executive. Once there is no balance of power, the executive becomes a monopolistic government totally disconnected from the realities facing the population. The legislative branch in Cameroon has been turned to hand clappers who represent their selfish interest rather than that of the citizens. The CPDM has reportedly rigged elections in Cameroon to gain majority in the Assembly and Senate, so as to easily implement its centralized policies. The result is a failed state where the constitution has constantly been violated by the president. All bills tabled by the government in Parliament are voted and promulgated into law regardless of their legality. This has led to a disparity between the government and the governed.

The crack down by the Biya regime on English speaking judges in Cameroon and a call by Southern Cameroonians in their majority for Parliamentarians to walk out of the Assembly in Yaoundé, is a refusal by the Anglophones to accept the bureaucratic nature of government. Reports say the government is in a deadlock. Francophone judges are beginning to question why justice Ayah Paul and others were arrested. What an embarrassment to a regime that is facing the toughest opposition to its policies in 35 years.

Cameroon needs an overhaul of its political system. The judiciary and legislative should be totally independent for good governance to prevail. Underdevelopment, corruption, favouritism, poverty, huge international debt are all a result of this poor bureaucratic system.  While the government can quickly accuse English speaking Cameroonians of depriving their children of the basic right of education, and foster its claims of manipulation from those it term 'extremists', its of utmost importance to restructure the running of state affairs and only a return to federalism will address these ills. Not even the best political analyse can project the outcome of the Anglophone problem in Cameroon. Government should call for frank dialogue before its too late⁠⁠⁠⁠. 

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Rita Akana

16.Feb.2017

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The anglophone consortium has just come up with a list of Southern Cameroonians who have been abducted by forces loyal to President Paul Biya  in the wake of the anglophone crisis.

Mark Bareta who acts as the Interim consortium leader alongside Tapang Ivo worked together to compile the list below:

UPDATED LIST OF ABDUCTED SOUTHERN CAMEROONIANS 

It is because of these persons that the struggle must continue. We owe them that.

Apart from the over 250 abducted in Mile 16 and 17 Buea, hundreds more in other areas that we cannot account for now by names, please if you know anyone abducted whose name is not on this list, send a mail to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. stating where he/she resides. We are in this struggle because of these individuals. The list includes names of teachers, lawyers, justices, lecturers, activists, students etc. They are all our heroes/heroines.
1. Tite Nkwenkam Momemka
19 years arrested January 28 in bamenda for distributing tracts
Accused of terrorism
Locked up in Yaounde
2. Chief Justice Ayah Paul
3. Barrister Agbor Balla
4. Dr Fontem Neba
5. Penn Terence Khan
6. Mancho bibixy
7. Elvis ndzenyuy
8. Veranso stephen
9. Tatah Elvis
10. Ngalim Felix
11. Chi Conrad
12. Muforchu Jean Pierre
13. Tambou cedric
14. Tangwa malvin
15. Levala Brian
16. Awuh Terence
17. Aselacha martin
18. Away Dzenyagha junior
19. Munji Roland
20. Awemo Joseph
21. Hillary Ndonkeh
22. Sunjo Diedonne
23. Wenong Snow Moses
24. Kingah Valentine
25. Yusinyu Gerald
26. Ndasi julius
27. Nkembu anicet
28. Kuyase Leonard
29. Mungou Azeh
30. Pang James
31. Manyaika Gaston
32. Eugene Ngeme
33. Tah Emile
34. Ngoumbe Zack
35. Hans Achumba
36. Pa Joe Ngwa Galim
37. Tangko Blaise
38. Ayeni Hyacinth
39. Shiyla Aloysius
40. Tanni (other names not known. Part of those arrested from Ndop)
41. Lawyer Abadem Walters
42. Ngeka Aaron
43. Tati Eric Ngu
44. Ruchard Chiato Yam
45. Ndenge Godden Zama
46. Yenmole Njovens
47. Mend Ako Junior
48. Achou Constatine
49. Fombi Amstrong
50. Fonyuy Kemi Cliford
51. Osi Abel
52. Nisi David Abang
53. Esono Wakenba.
54.Wirngo Daniel Wirdoh
55.Andrew Vuzuwoh Nchie
56.Wemje Vitalist
57. Fointama Christian
58.Yufenyuy Emmanuel
59. Tchato Richard ( ENS Student)
60. Tim Finian Njua
61. Barrister Tadikam Walters
62. Amos Fofung
63.Atia Azohnwi

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Rita Akana

15.Feb.2017

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A Cameroonian soldier has been killed in Kumshe area of Borno state, Nigeria, a newspaper reported on Wednesday.

Cameroonian newspaper, L’Oeil du Sahel, said the soldier was killed when a security vehicle he was travelling in climbed a landmine planted by Boko Haram in Kumshe.

Cameroon and Nigeria have been fighting Boko Haram in the Sambisa forest for several years now. 

Boko Haram days ago killed at least seven Nigerian soldiers and injured about 19 others following an ambush in Borno state.

The latest deaths among Nigerian and Cameroonian soldiers, many argue, are an indication that the terrorists are far from being defeated as repeatedly claimed by Nigeria.

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Rita Akana

14.Feb.2017

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If there were an organisation higher in rank than the United Nations, maybe the British Southern Cameroonians could sue the UN there.
Africa in her geopolitical structure as we have it today, is the fruit of an arbitrary division by the European Colonisers, mapped out in history as booty in proportion to each one's taste at the time, but for Ethiopia and Liberia.
After the defeat of Germany, whom most Cameroonians still love in the First World War, The League of Nations amongst other penalties seized Kamerun which had hitherto been a German colony and handed her over to the British and the French colonial masters to prepare for independence in spite of their distinct Colonial policies: the British, the policy of Indirect Rule and the French, the infamous policy of Assimilation. Curiously, the League broke up the colony that under the Germans into two distinct parts, each with the definitive goal of independence. This is where the problem starts.

With the rise of the Second World War and the eventual collapse of the League of Nations, the United Nations saw the light of day and amongst her many tasks was that of leading the territories of the British Southern Cameroons, La Republique du Cameroun and and other African Nations there were still under the colonial yoke to independence and self rule. This is not my story. It is history and the UN, the British and the French know this better to say nothing of their documentation on the subject matter.
In the British colonial policy names above, the indegenous people were given the freedom to form political parties and engage in open politicking with one another in their pursuit of self governance. This enabled them to conserve their cultural heritage, retain their institutions and belief systems and to look up to the British just for coaching. Under this framework they raised their national assembly and council of chiefs amongst others and learnt to confront and bring their democratically elected leaders to order when they did not represent the opinion of the the common man, his electorate. "Agere sequitur esse" is a Latin expression which means that as a being is so does it act, for every being acts according to its nature. Freedom of speech therefore has been the lot of the British Southern Cameroonian, and history attests to this. Democratic principles have governed his society from the post First World War days. Calling the leaders for the British Southern Cameroonian is not a taboo topic but a right. According to the legal heritage they picked up from the British, an accused person is still innocent until proven guilty before the law. This is how he was formed. This has been his orientation. And this is why he acts the way he does. And this is just not compatible with the orientation forced through his brother who lived in La Republique du Cameroun under the French.

In La Republique du Cameroun under the French, the policy of Assimilation was practised , not just there, but in all other French colonial territories in the world. How was this colonial policy applied by France and what was their real intention? Since the French did not have any intention to leave her colonies, nor give them any independence, the real objective of assimilation was to destroy the values of the indegenous people and their social structures, teach them to look up only to France as their liberator and exemplar. It aimed at teaching them to believe that a truly civilised person was an assimilated species, assuring them of an eutopia of "fraternité, egalité and liberté". It was not therefore surprising that their cultural heritage was hacked and ruined and the capacity of free and democratic leadership was not enhanced. No wonder then that prior to the independence of La Republique du Cameroun on the First of January 1961, the French colonial despots obliged the local leadership of Yaounde to sign inter alia: to allow France all latitudes on economic policy and monetary matters, the role to chose the government for La Republique du Cameroun, assistance in crushing all rebellion and assistance in her internal security and the recognition that all mineral and natural resources "belonged" to France. No wonder then, that in the wake of her independence the French colonial army descended on the real patriots of the Cameroun masses in order to install a weaker authority in Yaounde which they could manipulate at will. The French know this much more than any African and have better documentation about this than everyone else. And they did not do this only for La Republique du Cameroun, but did so to all her colonies. This may explain why every former French Colonial administration that has tried not to toe the line has met with hardships and sometimes death. Look at what happened to Thomas Sankara! Look at how Ghadaffi ended. Look at how many French backed military junters have ravaged the continent. "Agere sequitur esse" we said. The administrators of the African continent that have been assimilated cannot but act in the same way as is their leadership instinct. They all do everything to serve not just the interests of their people but much more those of the Colonial master that keep them in power. In many cases all over Africa such leaders do need to win elections any longer to keep glued to power. With France behind them, nothing can go wrong.

But how does the UN seem to be responsible for the crisis in the British Southern Cameroons, the nation that was aborted by them when in a surprising ploy she was lured into a union with La Republique du Cameroun with whom they had enjoyed unity under the colonial era of the Germans? How could the UN receive a mandate from the League of Nations to complete the process of self rule for people and later abort the scheme? Was this in good fate or it was only to defend the egoism of France, one of the unmoved movers with veto rights under the UN? Can anyone call this fair business?

I don't fully blame the authorities in Yaounde for acting the way they have done. That is how their orientation is. That is the political vision they have known. France breathes through them and if they change their pace and perspectives, the consequences are obviously going to be a repetition of what has shown up in other French colonies. How can one expect an environment that has never been drilled in listening to the voice and opinion of the masses to act otherwise? Are those who speak English enemies to those who speak French enemies in Africa? No! They live together always and happily, but when talking about democratic principles, it is a different story altogether. And the French know this better as the economic ransack and pillage of Africa has recently been articulated by one of their own Jacques Chirac.

Do I blame the English speaking population that receives authority from Yaounde for their rise and quests? "Agere sequitur esse". They were trained to be democratic. They are a free people in their historical orientation. They call their leaders to order. They demand for accountability as a right to the common man. They like to use their own natural resources and to forment their own Educational Curriculum that is relevant to their course and vision. This is who they are.

From all these analysis there is an inclination to blame to the greatest extent the United Nations for a job started and aborted. To blame them for watching people maimed, raped, tortured, arbitrarily imprisoned according to the civil law module which maintains that everyone is found guilty before the law until proven innocent. Had these protests been centred around the interests of any of the major signatories of the UN would this silence have been the answer? I remember in tears how the UN watched the drama in Rwanda in which French arms almost brought to extinction an entire nation, and I contrast it with the show of solidarity with France by all and sundry when the Islamic terrorists stroke Paris last year.
The uprising in Cameroun looks like two brothers set into a chain reaction by a heartless father who sits somewhere enjoying the show, ready to supply, sell or lend arms.
Can the UN wash her hands clean from this crisis? 

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Ewdwin Boye

14.Feb.2017

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